Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-07-24
"A ROCK THAT GROWS.
Remarkable Petrifaction In a Penn
sylvonia Ravine.

In uccp, dark raV1no Tow miles
from Now Castle, Pa, in North Beaver
township, Lawrence County, is a won
dcrful natural phenomenon in tho shape
OF avcritablo growing rock. Fifty years
ago, when it was first noticed, an in
vcrtcd wooden pail would almost cover
1T. To-day 1t Is 4 great bowldcr, ten
feet in height and fifteen feet or moro
in circumference, and weighing not loss
than fifty tons. During the summon
months it is covered with 4 donso rich
moss two or thrco inches deep, through
which tho waters from u littlo spring
tricl5lo continually.
Tho outer formation of this rock has
Limestone appearance, but onco re-
move the moss and chisol in tho gritty
surface and tho real beauty and pc
culiarity OF tho rock arc seen. A ccllu-
lar formation like q mammoth sponge
is discovered, and about tho cells is
Btono a. hard as adamant. On cutting
further in, this ccll-like substance 10
found to continue, but it seems to havo
been transformed into q translucent
flint. Thcrc Gro tons of this ilinty rock,
Tor 1T Is rs hoavy as granite, and ovcry
ounce OF 1t Is undoubtedly moss and
other vegetable matter petrilicd.
This remarkable pctriiication has
boon wrought by tho action of tho wator
from tho spring upon tho moss. Tho
water seems to havo tho singular prop
crcy Of turning into stono every thing
that IS brought in contact with it for
any lcngtn Of timo. 1t has an Gcrid
taste, and is undoubtedly heavily
charged with mineral substances, al
Il. r.. -.
alyzcd.
The most remarkable fact about it is
that il aCcOmplishCS SO much in so short
time. The moss grows luXuriantly in
tho dark hollow, and tho lapidcsccnt
quality OF tho water has operated year
cftor year upon tho layers OF moss. turn
Ing them into o honcycomb of stone,
and adding to what was first q small
rock. until to-day there is this great
bowldcr of pctriiiod vegetation.
y short time after tho moss begins to
grow in tho spring, it commences to
solidifS 1T tho roots, and tho pctrifica-
ton follows closely OH the track of tho
growing moss, like tho formation of
coral on tho work of the coral insects.
A3 1t progresses, tho dark green
Of tho vegetation becomes Yellow
ish, thcn changes to brown and
darkons as tho rock grows old
or. Tho moss is not all that
Is pcrpCtuatod in stone by the action Of
the water. Plants, leaves, twigs. every
vegetable substance that has fallen on
tho rock and lain there have been i'm
prcgnatcd with and, rs by tho touch Of
an incXorablc fate, been turned into
OF 1,,,it
tho moss stone has grown over them,
and many Gnch objects arc now to DO
found Dramatically sealed docp in tho
heart Of the rock.
TO tho ninCralOgi9t tho rock is n mine
OF treasure and delight. No ono ever
chisclU into that flinty bowldcr without
coming upon leaves and twigs pctrificd
among tho moss and securing many fine
specimens to rejoice his heart end mako
c2viouS less Fortunate mortals. Those
who "&vC visited it thus far say there is
not another such curiosity known in tho
world. The people in tho neighbour
E"od have long known of the remark
nClc qualities OF this spring. Mr.. Will
IAN Ellsworth first discovered it noarly
fifty years ago. ThCn the rock was ten
feet or moro below tho spring. Now it
has cliAbch up tho sido Of the bank un-
I'll 1t il partially above tho level OF tho
spring, and has turned tho water OF the
little brook that comes down through
tho ravinc somewhat out Of its course.
Mr.. AllSworth and some of his ncirh-
bora intend to try the experiment of
fastening frog or somc other creature
In such way that tho water will havo
chance to act upon it. and 500 whether
IT. will fill up animal tissue with its min
cT;l burden ~ it has dono tho vegetable
ones that havo como in continued con-
tact with it, They firmly bclicvo it
viii. and thcro seems littlo reason to
doubt H..
Influence nf tho Eirnaia.