The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-10-08
a. New Mineral.

A new discovery from which immense
results are expected is announced as
having been made in Texas. This is
nothing less than an entirely new Minis
eraI which is said to possess properties
that, if not overstated, must make it
immensely valuable in several mechan-
ical and electrical lines. 1t seems that
a deposit of curious substance resem-
bling asphalt attracted the attention OF
a scientific man with sporting proclivl-
ties, who was fishing in the Lone Star
State, which, investigation showed, was
impervious to water and unaffected by
heat, acid, or alkalies. The story, as
told by a local paper, relates how expert
ments carried Oh with samples of 1t sent
to New York, demonstrated the exist
ence of an entirely new mineral which
NAV exercise a tremendous influence
upon many of the greatest industries in
operation in his country
1t is claimed for this new substance
that lit is the most perfect insulator yet
discovered: that it may be used as a
paiut that will resist the action OF heat,
salt air. salt or fresh water, gases or
ether influences that destroy the paints
now in use; that it will make a perfect
yarnish which the ammonia gases OF the
| stable will not tarnish and thatIt will re-
main undisturbed under all atmospher-
| ic conditions that it may be rolled into
a tissue that is entirely free from odor
and practically indestrnctibie when en-
plOyed in the making OF macklntoshes;
canvas, betting. waterproof tents. etc,
| that it possesses peculiar powers OF pen
| J., f.pt, f.A,r. nYe-
| lures enabling it TO enter and fill the
,, pores of iron and steel, making these
metals absolutely iinpervious to acids,
| etc. and making common leather entire
| ly water proof, and that it may be app
| piled to wood pulp in such a way MS to
| transform that metal into what looks
| and acts like ebony or horn"
The testimony as TO the possession by
the mineral in question of all the quali-
ties named is said to be vouched for by
persons whose evidence is unlmpeacha-
| BILE among whom are several experts in
chemistry and mechanics. Numerous
practical tests are noted, among the rest
! the painting of the smOkestack of Il
steamship with the material and the
subsection of a piece of sheet iron COW
cred with it to an actual heat OF ALSO
| Fahrenheit. In the former instance the
| action of the salt water and heat had no
| detrimental effect upon the painted
| pipe, while in the latter experiment the
! high degree of heat noted failed to raise
! blister on the iron treated. But it is
| in electricity, that its benefits may per
/ haps be most readily appreciated
According to one authority, Professor
Hamilton, the electrician of the Western
Electric Company, certifies that under
tests executed in the most EXHAUSTIVE e
manner, "a wire prepared with a cover
ing of the material showed resistance
of over 1000 megohms per mile" This
is said to be sevenfold the resistance
offered by any other wire. There is al
so said to be practically no limit in the
State to the supply Of this strange min
eral, which is found in veins ranging in
depth from two to forty feet. The world
Of science and mechanical industry will
await with interest further investiga>
ton, which is needed to prove the utili-
ty of the new discovery beyond perad-
| venture