The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-09-05
DissOlying Quartz.

NNII' VI. - .IIJf .CyIl. -
/ FRoM Investigations now in progress, we have
undoubtedly discovered one of the lost arts of
ancient civilization The Commissioner of Pat
ents at Washington is now engaged in the in
vcstigation of the discovery: ..
II is, says the American Engineer, a method
of dissolving silica, or quartz, and all other
stones, with economy, on large scale, and in
such way as to adapt the solution to hundred
useful purposes When sand has been made
liquid it can be cast into moulds of any form,
re-crystalized, used to cement together all rocky
substances to make artificial stone and we may
have houses floors, statues, vessels of all kinds
and numbcrless things manufactured, with
beauty and facility, CT which we can scarcely
conceive. The gold-bearing quartz of California
can be dissolved, every atom Of gold separated,
and the solution made to take on any required
form, G., resuming again its solid or crystalline
condition. Palaces and cathedrals, with all their
gorgeous architecture, may be built up by
gradual accretion from liquid which can be
carried in buckets, and poured into moulds, UNI
til the magnificent edifice shall form but one
piece, from foundation to pinnacle The liquid
quartz, combined with variously colored mineral
and ochres forms the most brilliant paints, i'm
pervious to dampness, and indestructible by
time An egg simply dipped in the solution,
becomes incrustod with glass-liko surface in
which is Dramatically inclosed, andby which it
is preserved for an unlimited period. Doubtless,
dead body, immersed in this solution, COM
pletely covered with a transparent petrifaction,
might be preserved in the same manner In
thin sheets, it is flexible like mica Cloth dip
ped in the solution is imperyious to dampness,
and bids defiance to the flames. Cinderella,
wthoutmagic, can wear her glass slippers, or be
dressed in robes of crystal. Paper penetrated
with slick becomes strong like parchment with
out losing its hexibility. 4
tits impossible to enumerate the uses to which
this new and brilliant American discovery can be
applied No means have ever been found to
completely protect the patent printing, now used
by our government from moisture. This win
do it perfectly No varnish has ever been'fDade
which would hold hydrogen gas in balloon
Now, the veteran Professor Wise, or the adven-
turous La Mountain, may go up and circulate
about in the atmosphere for six months, or six
years, letting down cord occasionally and draw.
ing up their provisions; or they might angle from
their balloons, for birds, beasts and fishes, and
haul them up when caught.
Dr. Hayes need not trouble himself about the
sea at the north pole-no one need longer be
troubled about geographical discoveries. A
tight balloon, and a few months provisions, will
enable US to solve ali'the mysteries.
Descending to a lower strata Of utilities, we
have the means in this discovery, Of not only
building edihces with q cheapness and beauty
unheard OF, but we can preserve those already
built for an unlimited period Our wooden
houses can easily be covered inside and out
floors and roofs, with solid silica An our TIM
bers, for bridges, railroads, ships, &c, can DO
petrifed into absolute indestructbility, by wa
ter, or fire, or decay. Our sandstone buildings,
by wash of silica, can be preserved forever
from the effects of moisture and frost The ap-
plication to wood, by which It is practically turn
ed to stone and made indestuctible, is alone
worth millions. 1t has not, probably, been tried,
but we believe that piece Of furniture just made
Of any Of our fine woods, and immersed IN the
solution Of silica would bear polish like the fine
precious stones, and preserve its beautesfor
CT.
Is this now discovery Probably not 1t
is, most likely, the recovery Of one Of the lost
arts. Statues were found in Herculaneum, CON-
posed Of s1ex and cast in moulds The frescoes
Of Egypt are siliceous, and their colors. after
three thousand years, are as fresh as on the day
they were painted Withthis solution, the great
stones Of the pyramids have puzzled all
modern architects to tell where they came from,