Gypsum

specimen number:
8311280

location:
Naica, Chihuahua, Mexico

description:

A beautiful grouping of gem quality sharp glassy gypsum crystal set on matrix. Aesthetic and in very good condition for the species.

The Naica Mine, located in the Saucillo Municipality of Chihuahua, Mexico, is a world-famous lead-zinc-silver deposit renowned for producing the largest gypsum crystals ever discovered. Geologically, the deposit is a skarn and carbonate replacement type hosted within Cretaceous limestones, where hydrothermal fluids rich in calcium and sulfate circulated through subterranean faults. The famous Cave of the Crystals was formed as these mineral-rich waters were maintained at a stable temperature of approximately 58 degrees Celsius for hundreds of thousands of years, allowing selenite (a variety of gypsum) to grow into massive beams exceeding 11 meters in length. Historically, the site was discovered in 1794, but large-scale industrial mining did not begin until the late 19th century under various companies, including the Penoles Group which took control in the 1960s. The extraordinary crystal caves were encountered during routine tunneling in 2000 at a depth of nearly 300 meters. While the mine suspended major operations in 2015 due to significant flooding in the deeper levels, the locality remains a monumental site in mineralogy and geology for its unique crystallization environment.

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