In 2000 the world was taken by storm by the news of huge gypsum
crystals—up to 36 feet long—discovered in a lead and silver mine in
Naica, Mexico. Almost immediately the quest was on to learn how such
uniquely large and remarkably beautiful crystals could form. By 2007 a
research team led by Dr. Juan Manuel Garcia Ruiz of the University of
Granada in Spain had solved the mystery. One of the team’s major
frustrations was the difficulty of getting high quality photographs in
the hellish environment, where temperatures hovered around 135 °F at
100% humidity! To solve this problem, Dr. Garcia Ruiz sought the help
of Spanish documentary director Javier Trueba. The fruit of their
collaboration is a film that takes the viewer on a fascinating journey
around the world, from Spain to Chile, and all the way up to the
pinnacle of mineral genesis at Naica. In this presentation, Dr. Garcia
Ruiz will screen the film and discuss the science behind the Naica
crystals.
Part of Nature's Narrators: The 2010–2011 John H. Ostrom Program Series
