[Alandriel (OP)]

Super article & photos in National Geographic

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/04/photogalleries/giant-crystals-cave/index.html

totally awesome! [8D]

Do you know of anything similar anywhere else?

[neilep]

Then last episodes of David Attenboroughs Planet Earth was dedicated to this AMAZING most spectacular set of caves !!....ASTONISHINGLY AWESOME AND BREATHTAKING !!  (and those are understatements !)

[Karen W.]

They are incredibly beautiful!

[DoctorBeaver]

Stunning

[Alandriel (OP)]

Then last episodes of David Attenboroughs Planet Earth was dedicated to this AMAZING most spectacular set of caves .....

ooops!
Then I must <<rewind>> and get back to those. Can't believe I've missed that!

Thanks a lot for that info and pointer  []

[neilep]

Then last episodes of David Attenboroughs Planet Earth was dedicated to this AMAZING most spectacular set of caves .....

ooops!
Then I must <<rewind>> and get back to those. Can't believe I've missed that!

Thanks a lot for that info and pointer  []

Your welcome Mam.....(at least I think it was the last episode)...I luffed it so much I kept the recording !...it's one of the most incredible things I have ever seen !!.......In fact..the more I think about it...the more I think it was NOT the last episode.....it may have been the fourth of fifth !!..........sorry I can't be more accurate....I'm a sheep !!

[neilep]

However, this I am sure is the beginning of the program long before the crystal cave part !!..*le sigh*

[Bass]

Geological Society of America's journal Geology (April) printed an article on these giant crystals.  Abstract is available at http://www.gsajournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-abstract&doi=10.1130%2FG23393A.1
According to the authors, these crystals could only form under very specific conditions- they had to grow in a saturated solution at the gypsum-anhydrite phase transition, which is slightly below 58 degrees C.  If either the temperature or the level of saturation vary much over time, new nucleation (new crystals) form instead of the immense crystals found.  Estimated time to form these crystals ranges from thousands to millions of years.
 [ Invalid Attachment ]

cover photo on April volume of Geology

[chris]

That is breathtaking. Thanks for showing the picture. Chris

[Alandriel (OP)]

Thanks Bass, that's simply awesome. Great link!
 []

[Karen W.]

However, this I am sure is the beginning of the program long before the crystal cave part !!..*le sigh*

The video was removed I could not see it! BOO HOO! I have to try to find my moms photos of one they went through! But I think it was staligmites ofr something like that!

[neilep]

Geological Society of America's journal Geology (April) printed an article on these giant crystals.  Abstract is available at http://www.gsajournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-abstract&doi=10.1130%2FG23393A.1
According to the authors, these crystals could only form under very specific conditions- they had to grow in a saturated solution at the gypsum-anhydrite phase transition, which is slightly below 58 degrees C.  If either the temperature or the level of saturation vary much over time, new nucleation (new crystals) form instead of the immense crystals found.  Estimated time to form these crystals ranges from thousands to millions of years.
 [ Invalid Attachment ]

cover photo on April volume of Geology

This is such an amazing picture !!...a prime candidate for the Science Picture Of the Week Thread !!

[neilep]

Then last episodes of David Attenboroughs Planet Earth was dedicated to this AMAZING most spectacular set of caves .....

ooops!
Then I must <<rewind>> and get back to those. Can't believe I've missed that!

Thanks a lot for that info and pointer  []

It WAS the 4th Episode.

The American version was narrated by Sigourney Weaver !!!...How dare they rub out David Attenborough !!

Here's a wiki link to the cave system with some links at the bottom of the page !!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lechuguilla_Cave

[Karen W.]

Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico. That is where my moms pictures were taken of the cave I spoke of! I will have to look further and find them!

[Sarah Elizabeth]

there are some really amazing pictures and great footage of evaporite deposits in awe-insipiring caves ! has anyone seen the Ian Stewart programmes of planet earth ? theyve been on BBC1 english television ? They were great programmes and the last episode was on tuesday i think. these caves are millions of years old in the Mediterranean sea and people arent allowed inside them because the condensation from their bodies will slowly start to dissolve the deposits of gypsum these crystals were metres long and totally amazing !

[Bored chemist]

Somehow, when I saw that it remeinded me of this cartoon
http://xkcd.com/331/