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Environment

Chemistry In Pictures

Chemistry in Pictures: Gigantic geochemistry

by Corinna Wu
February 21, 2019

A photo of a cave filled with giant transluscent crystals that dwarf a human exploring them.

Huge, milky-white beams of gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) fill the Cave of Crystals near Naica, Mexico. For nearly a million years, conditions within the cave 290 m underground were perfect for the growth of the crystals, allowing them to reach massive sizes. Scientists are now studying how to protect and preserve the crystals for future generations.

Credit: Alexander Van Driessche/Wikimedia Commons

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