But there’s no magic involved, just some very particular geology. The chamber contains giant selenite crystals (gypsum, CaSO4 · 2 H2O), some of the largest natural crystals ever found on Earth.

Temperatures later stabilised at around 58C (136 degrees Fahrenheit), creating the perfect conditions for giant gypsum crystals to form from a mineral called anhydrite. Nevertheless, whilst ...

One area of investigation has been the effect of different carboxyl additives on the growth habits of hemihydrate gypsum crystals. Studies have shown that additives like sodium stearate and EDTA ...