Naica Mine
Encyclopedia
The Naica Mine of the Mexican state of Chihuahua is a working mine
that is best known for its extraordinary selenite crystals. Located in Naica
in the municipality of Saucillo
, the Naica Mine, a lead
, zinc
and silver
mine
operated by Industrias Peñoles
, is Mexico's largest lead producer.
Caverns discovered during mining operations contain crystals of selenite (gypsum
) as large as 4 feet (1.2 m) in diameter and 50 feet (15.2 m) long.
The selenite crystals were formed by hydrothermal fluids emanating from the magma
chambers below. The cavern was discovered while the miners were drilling through the Naica fault, which they were worried would flood the mine.
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
that is best known for its extraordinary selenite crystals. Located in Naica
Naica
Naica is a town in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It is located in the municipality of Saucillo and reported a population of 4,775 in the 2005 INEGI Census.It is a mining town and the location of the renowned Naica Mine.-References:...
in the municipality of Saucillo
Saucillo (municipality)
Saucillo is a one of the 67 municipalities of Chihuahua, in northern Mexico. The municipal seat lies at Saucillo. The municipality covers an area of 2,116.16 km².As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 28,508 .-Towns and villages:...
, the Naica Mine, a lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
, zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
and silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
mine
operated by Industrias Peñoles
Peñoles
Peñoles , based in Mexico City, Mexico, is a subsidiary company 100 percent Mexican and owned by the private Grupo Bal. Peñoles is the second largest Mexican mining company, the first Mexican producer of gold, zinc and lead and the world leader in silver production. Peñoles is a company with active...
, is Mexico's largest lead producer.
Caverns discovered during mining operations contain crystals of selenite (gypsum
Gypsum
Gypsum is a very soft sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate, with the chemical formula CaSO4·2H2O. It is found in alabaster, a decorative stone used in Ancient Egypt. It is the second softest mineral on the Mohs Hardness Scale...
) as large as 4 feet (1.2 m) in diameter and 50 feet (15.2 m) long.
Cave of the Crystals
The Cave of Crystals (Cueva de los Cristales) is a cave approximately 1000 feet (304.8 m) below the surface in the limestone host rock of the mine. The chamber contains giant selenite crystals, some of the largest natural crystals ever found.The selenite crystals were formed by hydrothermal fluids emanating from the magma
Magma
Magma is a mixture of molten rock, volatiles and solids that is found beneath the surface of the Earth, and is expected to exist on other terrestrial planets. Besides molten rock, magma may also contain suspended crystals and dissolved gas and sometimes also gas bubbles. Magma often collects in...
chambers below. The cavern was discovered while the miners were drilling through the Naica fault, which they were worried would flood the mine.
The Cave of Swords
The Cave of Swords is another chamber in the Naica Mine, also containing gypsum crystals but each only about a meter long.External links
- Naica mine at PeñolesPeñolesPeñoles , based in Mexico City, Mexico, is a subsidiary company 100 percent Mexican and owned by the private Grupo Bal. Peñoles is the second largest Mexican mining company, the first Mexican producer of gold, zinc and lead and the world leader in silver production. Peñoles is a company with active...
- Naica Mine at Mindat.orgMindat.orgMindat.org is a non-commercial online mineralogical database, claiming to be the largest mineral database and mineralogical reference website on the internet....
- Naica Project, comprehensive website on the Crystal Caves with geology, history, photos and videos