The massive underground megacrystals discovered in caves in northern Mexico add more proof to the theory that the world's greatest designer is nature itself.
In a report published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Italian researchers say that extreme swings in the climate of the region (i.e. climate change) are responsible for creating the gigantic crystals (yes, those are men in the orange suits - that's how big they are).
Over the past 200,000 years, the regional climate has shifted from from wet to dry, trapping water in the crystals. Evaporation during the dry period caused clumping of calcium deposits in the caves' surface water. Over thousands of years enough calcium built up to create the fantastical, otherworldly crystal structures we see today.
There you have it. A gorgeous casualty of climate change and another outstanding design by nature.
(Via Inhabitat)
Tags: