Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1914-06-19
GEOLOGICAL PUZZLE
South american "Water Stone''
a Singular Phenomenon.
Scientists Disagree as to Process 81
Its FormatIon-PrincIpai constltu-
ent IL siliea--Is Found EN-
bedded In Black Lava.

There Ii found In Uruguay and the
Argentine Republic a geological puz-
zle known to the English-speaking
people of those countries as the Salto
water stone"
In appearance the average water
stone resembles a piece OF clear glass
that has been fused by heat. The
stones vary In size from the bulk OF
lark's egg TO that OF a goose, but
larger specimens are sometimes found.
They are not uniform In shape. are
slightly fattened. and all are more
or less contorted Il is thought that
the principal constituent OF the stone
Is silica The rock In which II is
found embedded Is a dense black lava
Many stones contain no water, and
the more or less imperfect stones
seem to be numerous These imper-
feet stones. however. serve. in a meas
ure. TO indicate how the water stone
Is formed. For example, the appear
anee OF one stone clearly indicates
that the first formation OF the stone
was abruptly stopped by some I'M
known cause. When observed from
the concase side It presents somewhat
the appearance of a conical seashell.
displaying irregular concentric circles.
In the center OF these circles there Is
a rounded lndentation which indicates
with comparative certainty that the
infltration of water holding silica Ia
solution Is the cause OF its formation.
As already stated, tho water stones
are found embedded In black lava
rock. which at one period was soft
and plant from volcanic heat. Silica
In a molten state may have dripped
on II, possibly failing from a great
height; and "a this dripping continued
TO bear on one point, the silica. which
slightly broadening out. would be de-
pressed In the center. thus causing the
underslde to become convex or
pointed. and the continued augmenta-
ton OF material would cause the silica
gradually to sink In the lava
Molten silica IN cooling possesses
the property OF remaining Cor come
time in a soft. gelatinous condition.
but In a heated atmosphere II would
remain plant infinitely longer Thus
as the silica continued TO sink the
lateral pressure OF the lava on the
silica gradually brought It's upper
edges together. and by the continued
dripping OF the molten silica the close
ultimately became hermetie
All this II theoretical. however.
since scientists are not agreed upon
The question. II the formation of the
water stones IL TO DO traced 10 the
more direct action OF molten silica.
the water they contain must have
found its way In by some means after
the stone was formed. II this be the
case. there sesma TO be only one ra-
tlonal solution OF tho problem--that
the stone after completion must have
been submerged In water for long
time, possibly warm water. the heat
OF which would have caused a slight
expansion In the silica This being
united with pressure. In time the wa
ter may have filtered through TO such
an extent as finally TO al the cavity.
/ Many hold that the water stone is
fraud since. they assert. II IL be
left exposed for any length OF time
the water II contains will gradually
eyaporate and finally disappear. But.
On the other hand. those who admit
that various cases OF this have oc-
CURED point out that the evaporation
Of the water In all these instances was
probably due 10 slight fracture In
/ the stone. the result OF carelessness or
want OF skill In the excavation
II is also pointed out that there are
many water stones that have lain In
museums aud elsewhere from IL to 10
Z years. and that during tha. compare
lively long period the water In the
stones has shown no perceptible dimi-
mutton. This. II is eontended. is sufi-
/ cient proof that the water stone Is not
fraud. but very singular phenom-
enon.