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MSA MEETING PROGRAM & PLACE
Franciscan Renewal Center, (Piper Hall),
September 18, 2025 @ 7.30 pm Arizona time
"Journey into the Giant Selenite
Crystal Caves of Mexico”
Presented by
LEELA HUTCHISON, G.G.
Leela Hutchinson was one of the first explorers and the first American
woman to enter the giant gypsum (selenite) crystal caves in Naica, Mexico.
Photos courtesy of Leela Hutchison.
* If you are receiving this as a REMINDER email and attending via Zoom, please scroll to bottom for Zoom Link.
* Meeting is on the 3rd Thursday.
* Please bring refreshments to share.
* MEETING will be (In-Person and Zoom).
* ZOOM offering may be impacted. If possible, please plan to attend this special program in-person.
SEPTEMBER Mineral of the Month:
GYPSUM Var. SELENITE
Okay to bring 1-2 examples of Mineral of the Month.
Our September 18th program will be presented by Leela Hutchison on “Journey into the Giant Selenite Crystal Caves of Mexico." Leela will be presenting her rare images (and earliest documented of 2001) of the first sanctioned government exploration of the crystal caves found inside one of the oldest mines of Mexico: the Naica Mining facility owned by Industrias Penoles of Mexico City. The Giant Crystal Cave is an extraordinary natural formation containing some of the largest selenite crystals on Earth. The Naica caves themselves were formed in a complex geothermal environment, and the massive selenite crystals are composed of gypsum (a colorless, transparent mineral). These caves are located nearly 1,000 feet underground inside a 200-year-old silver mine in Naica, Chihuahua, Mexico, discovered in April 2000 by two miners assigned the task of drilling into bedrock searching for a vein of silver, lead and zinc. The crystals can reach up to 40 feet tall and weigh as much as 55 to 60 tons, making them the largest known planetary crystals and estimated to be 500,000 years old.
Hutchinson and her team first entered the caves in January 2001. The conditions inside the caves are extremely hostile, with temperatures exceeding 125°F and nearly 100% humidity, presenting life-threatening challenges. It is nearly impossible to remain conscious for more than 30 minutes without protective gear and clothing from the intensity of heat and humidity. Despite this, Hutchinson explored two caves unprotected (unaware of the high risks involved) navigating towering crystal formations in an environment that she described as resembling “Superman’s Fortress of Solitude” or an otherworldly exoplanet.
Following her exploration, Hutchinson authored the book "Journey Into the Giant Selenite Crystal Caves of Mexico," which offers a vivid and detailed account of the caves’ discovery, her experiences inside the crystal-filled caverns, and extensive scientific observations. This publication is available as a signed copy on her website and through Amazon. She has also presented her research and photographs in lectures, conferences, and museum exhibits worldwide to educate the public about these fascinating natural wonders.
Leela was born in El Paso, Texas, in the Chihuahua desert of the American southwest and has a long history as an avid hiker/rock climber and an explorer seeking discovery of her own information from sacred sites around the globe. She is a Graduate Gemologist, from G.I.A., (Gemological Institute of America).
Beyond her exploration, Hutchinson continues to study the geology and mineralogy of the crystals, promote understanding of their formation, and investigate possible undiscovered crystal formations deeper in the Chihuahuan Desert. Her passion for gems and minerals, nurtured during her upbringing in the American Southwest and formal gemology training at the GIA, has been a driving force in her career as both a researcher and communicator.
Leela Hutchinson’s exploration of the gypsum caves is recognized internationally. Notably, a photo of her inside the caves appeared on the cover of Smithsonian Magazine in 2002.
Save the date on your calendars for this very special program for Mineralogical Society of Arizona!
This book was written with you in mind from age 9 to 90... active or armchair explorers like you! It is an exciting read of adventure and mystery. I devoted description of every detail of my journey exploring the giant crystal caves - you will feel like you were there yourself. -Leela Hutchison
You can purchase this book
directly from Amazon.
Bring copy of Leela's books
to MSA meeting for Leela
to autograph in event
your copy is unsigned.
Thank You LEELA for your research and explorations and sharing your experiences about this remarkable natural monument of our planet and for your support of Mineralogical Society of Arizona!
Meeting starts at 7.30PM Arizona time.