Largest Selenite Crystals in the World a Million Years in the Making

I came across an article last week about the Giant Crystal Cave connected to the Naica Mine in Chihuahua, Mexico. Strangely enough, this was the first time I had come across this information. All the research material I subsequently complied spoke about the geology of the caves.

As a scientific discovery the caves are nothing short of astounding, but from a spiritual point of view, there is a whole other dimension to explore. Not only from the size and composition of the crystals but also in terms of when they were discovered…

The Crystal cave was discovered by accident in April 2000 by two Naica miners, brothers Juan and Pedro Sanchez whilst drilling a new tunnel. The cave, which is at a depth of 300m below the surface, is in reality a gigantic geode of red walls filled with selenite crystals. The size of the crystals is nothing short of astounding, with most of the crystals measuring 6m in length and some even reaching 11m in length, with a thickness of up to a metre.

The conditions in the cave are nothing short of extreme, the temperature in the cave is around 50°C with 100% humidity, making it potentially lethal to anyone exposed to these conditions for more than 10 minutes without proper breathing equipment. These extreme conditions have perhaps been the cave’s biggest ally in ensuring that the caves remain relatively undisturbed.

Not only are these the largest selenite crystals discovered to date, but in 2011 research revealed that these are also the slowest growing ever measured. “Some crystals may have taken as much as a million years to form, growing by the width of a hair each century” (Crystalinks, 2011)

Selenite, like a number of other “new-age” crystals such as angelite and celestite, is a sulphate. Selenite’s chemical composition is CaSO₄.2H₂O. It is an incredibly soft crystal and because of the water in its crystal structure, it will easily dissolve if submerged too long in water.

Selenite is named for Selene, the ancient Greek Moon goddess, it glows with moonlight, bringing radiance and harmony. Selenite’s most important purpose is that it quickly opens and activates the third eye (brow), crown and soul star chakra. It is one of the best stones to bring about a rapid shift in energy. The discovery of these gigantic selenite crystals a mere 12 years before 2012 is highly significant.

2012 marked the beginning of a 26,000 year cycle, as the sun marches its way back through the signs of the zodiac. This cycle, also called the Great Year or Axial Precession, is a gradual shift in the earth’s rotation on its axis. The significance of this is that it heralded the beginning of a new age, the Aquarian Age, the re-awakening of the Divine Feminine.

The energy shifts, and resultant spiritual awakenings that have accompanied the onset of the Aquarian Age, may well have been assisted by these enormous selenite crystals, which just happened to have been discovered 12 years before. Even the numerology of 12 is interesting, if we simplify this number, i.e. 1 + 2, we get 3. 3 of course is sacred number in many religions linked to divinity.

If you would like to learn more about the re-awakening of the Divine Feminine energy, I am hosting a workshop in Durban on the 31^st July entitled, “Crystals and the Divine Feminine Workshop”. The event details can be found at https://www.facebook.com/events/836210769818745/

References:

1. Crystalinks (2011). Mexico’s Cave of Giant Crystals. [online] Available at: http://www.crytalinks.com/mexicocrystals.html [Accessed 17 Jun 2016].

2. Cunningham, S. (2012). Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic, 11^th Woodbury, Llewellyn Publications

3. Eason, C. (2015). The Complete Crystal Bible – 500 crystals to heal your body, mind and spirit. London, Carlton Books.

4. GeologyPage (2016). Cave of Crystals “Giant Crystal Cave. [online] Available at: http://geologypage.com/2016/06/cave-of-crystals.html [Accessed 17 Jun 2016].

5. Lilly, S. (2012). The Crystal Healing Bible. London, Quantum Books

6. Naica Project (2016). Naica Project _ Crystals’ Cave [online] Available at: http://www.naica.com.mx/english/internas/interna4_1.htm [Accessed 17 Jun 2016].

7. National Geographic (2010). Giant Crystal Cave’s Mystery Solved. [online] Available at: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/04/070406-giant-crystals_2.html [Accessed 17 Jun 2016].

8. Pellant, C. (1992). Eyewitness Handbooks – Rocks and Minerals. London, Dorling Kindersley

9. Simmons, R. & Ahsian, N. (2015). The Book of Stones – Who they are & what they teach. Berkley, North Atlantic Books

10. Stewart, I. (2010). A rare glimpse of the cave of crystals. [online] Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8466493.stm [Accessed 17 Jun 2016].

11. Tourism on the Edge (2013). Largest Crystals in the World: Giant Crystal Cave, Mexico.  [online] Available at: http://www.tourismontheedge.com/get-extreme/largest-crystals-in-the-world-giant-crystal-cave-mexico [Accessed 17 Jun 2016].