The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-07
CURIOsITIEs OF ROCKS.
How Agates Arc Found-An Artificial
Method of Pearl-Making.

WASHINGTON CRY, Feb. 22-[Special. /
Two very remarkable curiosities are placed
side by side on little shelf at the geologi-
cal survey. One is lump of chalcedony
q big as a child's fist, white and trans
lucent. 1t is but a thin shell, and, when
held to the light, is seen to be nearly flied
with water, which flows about as the oh
ject is turned this way and that. What
makes it interesting is that the water has
undoubtedly been inclosed and hermeti-
cally sealed in this natural receptacle for
thousands and thousands of years. Prob
ably it was there long before Moses was
born, and yet not a drop of it has evapor-
sted. Originally there was q cavity in the
rock, formed by volcanic bubble. Water
percolated into it, bringing in solution
eilex, which was deposited on the
walls of the little hollow in
coating of chalcedony. At length it
would have been filled up solid with beau
6ful crystals, forming one OF those
.geodes' as they are called, which are
natures treasure caskets found concealed
in rocky formations where least expected
and revealing wonders of brilliant color
Agates are made in the same fashion.
However, in this instance, the small chan
mel by which the water flowed in and out
became closed up in some way, and so the
process stopped. After the lapse OF, no
one can tell how many centuries, the
stony mass containing the chnlcedony
chamber. with its liquid contents, was
broken open and it fell out, being loose.
The other curious object above referred
20. is what appears to DO petrlied oyster,
cut through. so that onesaes 1t apparently
on the half-shell. just as 1t would look
when opened fresh for customer. 1t was
found in chalk beds, formed largely OF the
shells of various hivalyes, PROBABLY many
oysters and clans among them. Inc So
called "heart" of the animal, "hieh Is ITS
big muscle, and all the other parts are
wonderfully distinct. Ihfre IS even
small pearl in it, seemingly. aet II IS not
m oyster at all, but merely one OF 'hese
marvellous limitations which nature makes
of her own works in freakisn MOODS
The government rock sharps find many
"A surprising curiosity among the rocks
which it is their business 70 ilNvSt' s,,'t'
Epst now at the office OF the geological
snrvev they are engaged in building lmi-
tation mountains for the purpose Oh study
trr tbe wav in which the etefAai mus
we're formed by the crumpins Que 10 me
contraction of the earths cruss. 4 ue C!.l
basins and other valuable mli,elai uel'Ss.ts
In MANY parts OF lic t"t'.N =. ~. =
rnderrone lust such crumpllns, SO maj I II
will be profitable TO ascertain 'Ao '""S
These imitation mountains aFe pG.s o.
bar5aned or so.ssned by MAKING 1t
s,;tI nther Substances, so that II shaiI re-
sar 49, in consistency the brittle rocks
So The esrth,s surface or the plastic
rosIs which are in that CONDITION because
~ the rrast pressure that exists even at
" S Wy go s nnfy Two or three miles, as the
case may be. The mixture - esf;rC -
ers of a given thickness py nh W.,
tiowing Il in a wooden tsousnl ' .ei'
esch LAYER has hardened u u s" ~, a.,
snd nnmber of the layers tnus - 49, tigs
s,r !. one upon the ONE ll@e
IsY@rs Of ;ellv cake represenuhg 1900 o
81 s1-eta The next process Is - p'"le
ga i 800 in \ machine, pliing stot on
san ~ the,, Ia represent the iorce "a sIaF
isv, after which preSsuio, r,sten advanced
the ends very slowly ps them TO crur1-
with screw. This ss~,,ticiai roatr1r-
ME mn and under the ar ass'n r-sessely tbs
Hon they are found to.sane Ike Me Ale
forms OF mountain rans's
enemies. =. n is interesting 20
krnv ,Sat onite recentiy aas.tI siSi ~
s s INA 49, aulMv Benchon- bfah1 " mas
5renchilsn, ~ !. Il believes TO Us . pfae-
discovered w wna' II procuring thS manh-
iacture Of thass aw that be pearl
@roagii arr i seriousiySmenaeed
4.siAet " tlS