The Harrison times., 1914-06-13
GEOLOGICAL PUZZLE
South American water Stone"
a Singular Phenomenon.
Scientists Disagree as to Process Of
Its Formation-Prncpal Constitu-
ent 10 SIica-Is Found EN-.
bedded In Black Lava.

There is 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 piece Of clear glass
that has been fused by heat. The
stones vary in size from the bulk Of
a larRs egg to that Of a goose, but
larger specimens are sometimes found.
They are not uniform in shape, are
slightly hattened and all are more
or less contorted. 1t is thought that
the principal constituent Of the stone
10 silica The rock in which it 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 meas
ure, to Indicate how the water stone
is formed. For example the appear.
ance Of one stone clearly indicates
was abruptly stopped by some un.
known cause, When observed from
the concaye side It presents somewhat
the appearance Of conical seashell,
displaying irregular concentric circles.
In the center Of these circles there Is
a rounded indentation which indicates
with comparative certainty that the
intltratlon Of water holding silica In
solution Is the cause Of its formation.
AS already stated, the 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 It, possibly falling from u great
height; and as this dripping continued
to bear on one point, the silica, which
slightly broadening out, would be de-
pressed in the center, thus causing the
underside to become convex or
pointed, and the continued augmenta-
tion of material would cause the silica
gradually to sink in the lava.
Molten silica In cooling possesses
the property Of remaining for some
time in a soft, gelatInous condition,
but In a heated atmosphere It would
remain plant infinitely longer Thus
as the silica continued 10 sink tho
lateral pressure Of the lava on tho
silica gradually brought It's upper
edges together, and by the continued
dripping Of the molten silica the close
ultimately became hermetic,
All this is theoretical however
since scientists are not agreed upon
the question. II the formation Of the
water stones IL to bo traced to the
more direct action OF molten silica,
the water they contain must have
found It's way In by some means after
the stone was formed II this be the
case, there seems to be only one rO
tional solution Of the problom-that
the stone after completion must have
been submerged IN water for long
time, possibly warm water, the heat
Of which would have caused n slight
expansion in tho silica, This being
united with pressure, In time the wa.
ter may have filtered through to such
an extent as finally to iill the cavity,
I Many hold that the water stono is
q fraud, since, they assert, II II be
loft exposed for any length Of time
tho water Il 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 TO slight fracture IN
the stone, the result Of careleHsness or
want OF skill In the excavation
II iB also pointed out that there are
many water stones that have lain In
museums and elsewhere from ~ to 10
years, and that during that comgara'
lively long period tho water IN the
stones has shown no poroeptiblo dlml'
mutton, This, II In contondod, IN sum
oiont proof that the water stone IN not
n fraud, but u very singular phonom'
! enon,