Special note: These images are copyright of Penoles Mining Corporation © 2010. A grant has been graciously provided by them to display these images here.

Hello ATS. Here is something to both feast your eyes upon as well as begin dwelling upon pertaining to how much we as humans really do not know, and about how much we as humans still have left to discover! Welcome to a Hollow Earth... at least part of it!Location: District of Chihuahua, Mexico. The Naica Mines.In 1910, at a depth of 120 meters, workers of the Penoles Mining Corporation involved with the extraction of base metal ores blasted into a cavity of untold amazement. Realizing the discovery, the tunnel that was being excavated was redirected, and the cavity sealed. What was it that caused the company to seal this cavity?Several decades later, in 2002 and at a depth of 320 meters, the Penoles Mining Corporation, again, blasted into a broad reaching cavity that spanned off into darkness. The difference with this discovery is that the workers were blasted with a wave of air from the cavity that scalded thier skin, as the temperatures there rose to 160 degrees Farenheight!This location too, was sealed with a huge Iron door, and the excavation rerouted.The Mexican government has taken control of these locations, even though they are still "owned" by the Mining corporation, by enacting laws protecting these sites. What is the big deal here? What was so special about these locations, and why is it that the government had to step in?Because these two locations were declared by the Mexican Government as National Treasures!What was the "treasure"? Let's pay a visit in images, to find out! Welcome to the Cavern of the Crystals, The Queen's Eye Cavern, and Cave of Swords - Naica, Chihuahua, Mexico!Preparations:A little understanding... The location these caverns were discovered also sits atop a broad reaching batholith of molten lava, so the temperatures here altered the minerals that formed in these caves. Normally, you'd see the usual travertine, calcitic, and onyx based minerals in caverns consisting of Stalactites, Soda Straws, Stalagmites, and Rock Curtains. The heat index in these caverns however changed everything, forming complex paterns in the forms of Gypsum and Selenite Crystals.At 160 degrees Farenheight, visiting the Cavern of the Crystals can be rather opressive, thus the exploratory crew prepares with cooling suit apparati and cooled oxygen breathing apparati.Without any knowledge about where this cavity goes, a Base of Operations is set up ,to capture imagery feedback from worn cameras,as well as a communications system is set up.The crew is also equipped with monitoring equippment.Several sources of high intensity illumination are set into place, and the adventure starts!Continued Below!MODS: I understand that there may be a limitation on posted imagery, however I haven't had time to review all of the rules related to that. With that stated, I'd like to plead a special case be granted for this thread as these images are RARE, and can only be seen on one place on Earth. That given, please make an exception for the amount of images provided, to give your viewers the maximum effect to take back with them after thier reviewing such a marvel as these images alone reveal!Thank you![edit on 7/9/2010 by Megiddodiddo]