FW: Crystal Cave of the Giants - Discovery of the Largest Crystals on Earth

Crystal Cave of the Giants

In what has proved to be the discovery of the largest known crystals on earth, work is underway to document and preserve this historic find. While some minor damage has already occurred in the primary cave and a secondary cavern, called Cave of Dreams, iron doors have been installed by the Peñoles company to prevent damage to the giant, magnificent crystals. While investigations are underway the mine is closed, but with the newly installed lighting system, it is expected to open in the fall 2001.



Found deep in a mine in southern Chihuahua Mexico, these crystals were formed in a natural cave totally enclosed in bedrock. When I first stepped into the cavern it was like walking into the Land of the Giants. I have often admired crystal geodes held in my hand, but when photographing these unique natural structures it was almost impossible to get any sense of scale. This is a geode full of spectacular crystals as tall as pine trees, and in some cases greater in circumference. They have formed beautiful crystals that are a translucent gold and silver in color, and come in many incredible forms and shapes. Some of the largest are essentially columnar in shape and stand thirty to fifty feet high and three to four feet in diameter. Many of the smaller examples are four to six feet in circumference, have many incredible geometrical shapes, and probably weigh in excess of ten tons. The columnar pillars are at first the most striking shape, but later I noticed there were thousands of "sharks teeth" up to three feet high placed row upon row and dispersed at odd angles throughout the caverns. While some of the crystals are attached to the ceiling walls and floors of the cave as might be expected, some exist in great masses of spikes and almost float in air. These crystals seem to defy gravity, as they must weigh several tons.

The crystal cavern was discovered within the same limestone body that hosts the silver-zinc-lead ore bodies exploited by the mine. The cavern was probably dissolved by the same hydrothermal fluids that deposited the metals with the gypsum being crystallized during the waning stages of mineralization. The crystals probably grew relatively quickly to their immense size within a completely liquid-filled cavern.

Selenite, the gypsum crystal, named after the Greek goddess of the moon due to its soft white light, is said to have many metaphysical and healing benefits. Selenite powder has been used cosmetically for thousands of years to enhance one's natural beauty. It is believed that this crystal assists with mental focus, growth, luck, immunity, and soothes the emotions. It is unquestionably magical that the cool white rays of moonlight can originate deep underground in a black chamber that is, at least in my perception, white hot.

The Naica mine was first discovered by early prospectors in 1794 south of Chihuahua City. They struck a vein of silver at the base of a range of hills called Naica by the Tarahumara Indians. The origin in the Tarahumara language seems to mean "a shady place". Perhaps here in the small canyon there was a grove of trees tucked away by a small canyon spring.

From the discovery until about 1900, the primary interest was silver and gold. Around 1900 large-scale mining began as zinc and lead became more valuable.
the famous Cave of Swords was discovered at a depth of 400 feet. Due to the incredible crystals, it was decided to try to preserve this cave. While many of the crystals have been collected, this is still a fascinating cave to visit. In one part there are so many crystals on one of the walls, they appear to be like an underwater reef moving in a gentle undulating motion in an ocean current.

In April 2000, brothers Juan and Pedro Sanchez were drilling a new tunnel when they made a truly spectacular discovery. While Naica miners are accustomed to finding crystals, Juan and Pedro were absolutely amazed by the cavern that they found. The brothers immediately informed the engineer in charge, Roberto Gonzalez. Ing. Gonzalez realized that they had discovered a natural treasure and quickly rerouted the tunnel. During this phase some damage was done as several miners tried to remove pieces of the mega-crystals, so the mining company soon installed an iron door to protect the find. Later, one of the workers, with the intention of stealing crystals, managed to get in through a narrow hole. He tried to take some plastic bags filled with fresh air inside, but the strategy didn't work. He lost consciousness and later was found thoroughly baked.

When inside the great cathedral of crystals, the pressure of intense heat makes my feelings run up and down the emotional scale from shear religious awe to outright panic.
When I talk to professional geologists about crystals they tell me that these natural forms are incredibly complex, yet so simple. They have a magical or metaphysical personality independent of their chemical structures. These geologists have explained to me that there is a magma chamber two to three miles below the mountain and that heat from this compressed lava travels through the faults up into the area of the mine. Super heated fluids carry the minerals the miners are seeking as well as form the crystals. The mine is ventilated; otherwise, it could not be worked.
When describing the crystal formation the geologists' eyes light up with a special emotional fascination. They tell how the fluids travel along the Naica fault, enter voids in the bedrock, and then form entirely natural structures that are not easily explained by science.

Thanks goes to. Roberto Gonzales and Ing. Roberto Villasuso, of the Pe¤oles Mining Company and Sonia Estrada and Carlos Lazcano for contributions to this text and photographs.

A Judgement

In a small town in India, a person decided to open a Bar and Restaurant right opposite to a temple.

The temple committee and its congregation started a campaign to prevent the opening of the Bar with petitions to the authorities and prayed daily to God to see the work on the Bar building did not progress.

However, when it was almost complete and was about to be opened, a strong lightning struck the Bar building and it was burnt down.

The temple folks were rather smug in their outlook after that, till the Bar owner sued the temple authorities on the ground that the temple committee, through its congregation and prayers, was ultimately responsible for the destruction of the Bar building, either directly or indirectly.

In its reply to the court, the temple vehemently denied all responsibility or any connection between the prayers and the destruction of the building.

As the case made its way, the judge looked over the written statements at the hearing and commented:

"I don't know how I'm going to decide this case. But it appears from the records that we have a Bar owner who believes in the power of prayer and we have an entire temple committee and its devotees who do not believe in the power of prayer."

Now let me add: There was in India a Sanyasi living in his hermitage in the outskirts of a small town. He would go out for alms after performing his morning ablution and puja and return in the evening. His hermitage was right opposite to a brothel where the single woman would dress up in her best finery and receive her customers.

After many years, the Sanyasi died certain in his heart that angels would receive him in the heavens. Sadly, he was taken to hell. After a few years he heard that the prostitute who lived in the opposite house had died and thought she was sure to be in the Hell too.

To his surprise even after many days he could not find her in hell. He decided to ask Yama, the Lord of hell, the whereabouts of the prostitute.

Yama told the Sanyasi that he had left her in heaven as per Lord Indra's command. Unable to believe this perfidy, the Sanyasi approached Indra for throwing a man of God like him to hell while a sinner like the prostitute welcomed to heaven.

Lord Indra threw his benign smile at the Sanyasi and explained: "You Sanyasi, you were always indulging in voyeur with that prostitute after your prayers while that prostitute after her sinful act would offer prayers to God seeking forgiveness of her sins. Now go back to where you really belong and the prostitute will be here in heaven where she rightfully belongs. Though your lips prayed, your mind was always full of that prostitute and sex. In contrast, though that prostitute was indulging in sinful sexual act, her mind was always full of God and repentance."

Well, well, now I know why the other Sanyasis living on earth wish to go to heaven !

Asset bubble.....

Once there was a little island country.

The land of this country was the tiny island itself.


The total money in circulation was 2 dollar as there were only two
piecesof 1 dollar coins circulating around.


1. There were 3 citizens living on this island country. A owned the
land. B and C each owned 1 dollar.


2. B decided to purchase the land from A for 1 dollar. So, A and C
noweach own 1 dollar while B owned a piece of land that is worth 1 dollar.
Thenet asset of the country = 3 dollar.


3. C thought that since there is only one piece of land in the
countryand land is non produceable asset, its value must definitely go up. So,
heborrowed 1 dollar from A and together with his own 1 dollar, he bought
theland from B for 2 dollar.


A has a loan to C of 1 dollar, so his net asset is 1 dollar.


B sold his land and got 2 dollar, so his net asset is 2 dollar.


C owned the piece of land worth 2 dollar but with his 1 dollar debt to
A,his net asset is 1 dollar.


The net asset of the country = 4 dollar.


4. A saw that the land he once owned has risen in value. He
regrettedselling it. Luckily, he has a 1 dollar loan to C. He then borrowed 2
dollarfrom B and acquired the land back from C for 3 dollar. The payment
isby 2 dollar cash (which he borrowed) and cancellation of the 1 dollar
loanto C.


As a result, A now owned a piece of land that is worth 3 dollar.



But since he owed B 2 dollar, his net asset is 1 dollar.


B loaned 2 dollar to A. So his net asset is 2 dollar.


C now has the 2 coins. His net asset is also 2 dollar.


The net asset of the country = 5 dollar. A bubble is building up.


5. B saw that the value of land kept rising. He also wanted to own
theland. So he bought the land from A for 4 dollar. The payment is by
borrowing 2 dollar from C and cancellation of his 2 dollar loan to A.


As a result, A has got his debt cleared and he got the 2 coins. His net
asset is 2 dollar.


B owned a piece of land that is worth 4 dollar but since he has a debt
of 2dollar with C, his net Asset is 2 dollar.


C loaned 2 dollar to B, so his net asset is 2 dollar.


The net asset of the country = 6 dollar. Even though, the country has
onlyone piece of land and 2 Dollar in circulation.
6. Everybody has made money and everybody felt happy and prosperous.
7. One day an evil wind blowed. An evil thought came to C's mind.
"Hey,what if the land price stop going up, how could B repay my loan. There
isonly 2 dollar in circulation, I think after all the land that B owns is
worth at most 1 dollar only."
A also thought the same.


8. Nobody wanted to buy land anymore. In the end, A owns the 2
dollarcoins, his net asset is 2 dollar. B owed C 2 dollar and the land he
ownedwhich he thought worth 4 dollar is now 1 dollar. His net asset become -1
dollar.


C has a loan of 2 dollar to B. But it is a bad debt. Although his net
assetis still 2 dollar, his Heart is palpitating.


The net asset of the country = 3 dollar again.


Who has stolen the 3 dollar from the country ?


Of course, before the bubble burst B thought his land worth 4 dollar.


Actually, right before the collapse, the net asset of the country was 6
dollar in paper. his net asset is still 2 dollar, his heart is
palpitating.
The net asset of the country = 3 dollar again.


9. B had no choice but to declare bankruptcy. C has to relinquish his
2dollar bad debt to B but in return he acquired the land which is worth 1
dollar now.
A owns the 2 coins, his net asset is 2 dollar. B is bankrupt, his net
assetis 0 dollar. ( B lost everything ) C got no choice but end up with a
landworth only 1 dollar (C lost one dollar) The net asset of the country = 3
dollar.


****************Moral of the Story***************************


There is however a redistribution of wealth.
A is the winner, B is the loser, C is lucky that he is spared.
A few points worth noting -
* When a bubble is building up, the debt of individual in a
country
to one another is also building up.
* This story of the island is a close system whereby there is no
other country and hence no foreign debt. The worth of the asset can only
be
calculated using the island's own currency. Hence, there is no net loss.
* An over-damped system is assumed when the bubble burst,
meaning
the land's value did not go down to below 1 dollar.
* When the bubble burst, the fellow with cash is the winner. The
fellows having the land or extending loan to others are the loser. The
asset could shrink or in worst case, they go bankrupt.
* If there is another citizen D either holding a dollar or
another
piece of land but refrain to take part in the game. At the end of the
day,
he will neither win nor lose. But he will see the value of his money or
land go up and down like a see saw.
* When the bubble was in the growing phase, everybody made
money.
* If you are smart and know that you are living in a growing
bubble, it is worthwhile to borrow money (like A ) and take part in the
game. But you must know when you should change everything back to cash.
* Instead of land, the above applies to stocks as well.
* The actual worth of land or stocks depend largely on
psychology.


ForwardSourceID:NT00017186

FW: Learn to pay attention, LOL !

First-year students at Texas A&M's Vet school were attending their first Anatomy class, with a dead pig.

They all gathered around the surgery table with the body covered with a White sheet. The professor started the class by telling them, 'In Veterinary Medicine it is necessary to have two important qualities as a Doctor:

The first is that you not be disgusted by anything involving the Animal body'. For an example, the Professor pulled back the sheet, Stuck his finger in the nose of the dead pig, withdrew it and stuck his Finger in his mouth. 'Go ahead and do the same thing,' he told his Students.

The students freaked out, hesitated for several minutes. But eventually took turns sticking a finger in the nose of the dead pig And sucking on it.

When everyone finished, the Professor looked at them and said, 'The Second most important quality is observation. I stuck in my middle Finger and sucked on my index finger. Now learn to pay attention

Perspective View

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.

They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, 'How was the
trip?'

'It was great, Dad.'

'Did you see how poor people live?' the father asked.

'Oh yeah,' said the son.

'So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?' asked the father

The son answered:

'I saw that we have one dog and they had four.

We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.

We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.

Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.

We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.

We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.

We buy our food, but they grow theirs.

We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.'

The boy's father was speechless.

Then his son added, 'Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.'

Isn't perspective a wonderful thing?


Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have.

Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends & Well Wishers!