Naica: Secrets Of The Crystal Cave

Just a few minutes ago I finished watching this show on the discovery channel which prompted me to also read an article online at national geographic`s website. As the title of this blog suggests the show-article features a cave full of crystals, but not just any crystals. The crystals in question have grown to over 30feet long and are several feet thick. These white translucent giants jut out from all directions creating what the scientist on the site describe as a cathedral but what I think looks more like Superman`s fortress of solitude. Nevertheless, the sight of the crystals truly is awe inspiring, even on TV.

What makes these crystals relevant archaeologically is their age and composition. The primarily tests from samples of some of the larger crystals show that they are approximately 600,000 years old. As one of the geologist on the show put it, some of the crystals grew at the rate of a mere millimeter or two a millennium. The composition of these crystals is also of interest to archaeologist because the crystals were formed underwater and because of this microscopic pockets formed in the crystal, trapping microorganisms. Some of the organisms found in these pockets include pollen, which some scientist have used as evidence for a ancient forest once thriving over the cave where a desert now resides.

Now to put this all together I was thinking that if we have access to these giant Rolodexs of planetary history one entrepreneuring individual may be inclined try to establish a timeline. I believe that this feat may be possible because of the environment in which the crystals were created. As I had mentioned before the crystals were formed under water in a cave, but what I neglected to mention is that they were formed in a volcanic area of Mexico well below the surface of the earth. The water that filled the cave was water from the local water table. Flowing water is what filled the cave and it is for this reason that pollen has also found its way into the cave and into the crystals. What this means is that archaeologists are not going to just find the same pollen in the cave, as if it was exposed to air at one point and then covered. In fact, the exact opposite has occurred at the cave, the only reason the crystals are as large as they are is because the cave has always been filled with water around 50`C. What this means is that the pollen that finds its way to the crystals is going to be varied and relative to the period in which the crystal was formed. By mapping the pollen and other organisms found in the crystals it may be possible to get some sort of timeline for the area, which would then have implication towards global climate and activity, possibly dating back 600,000 years.

Of course this is all just a somewhat crazy idea I had while watching that show and was based off what little I remember from pottery analyze. I`m very much uncertain if this could actually be done but I thought it was an interesting idea I could share.