Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1914-06-05
South American "Water stoo..
a Singular Phenomenon.
Scientists Disagree a. to Proe... =.
'es FormatIon-PrineIpal con,t,t.
+" snt 10 si'Iea-Is Found En-.
bsddsd In Black Lava

--... ~ SAoeudy and tia
Argentine Republic q geological nus '
xie known to the English.speat,n.
people OF those countries az tho GU
water stone" N"'~
In appearance the ayerape u..
stone resembles piece Of clear glss.
tnae has been fused by heat, Ths
stones vary In size from the bulk =,
lark's egg to that of a goose nu.
larger specimens are sometimes foura
They are, not uniform in shane a,a
slightly fattened, and all are mo,s
or less contorted. 1t is thought thai
the principal constituent Of the stons
Is silica. The rock in which y :.
found embedded is a dense black Law,
Many stones contain no water and
the more or less imperfect Stone,
seem to be numerous. These imno,
feet stones. however, serve, in mea,.
ure. to indicate how the water stons
Is formed. For example, the appear.
ance OF one stone clearly indicates
that the first formation of tho STONE
was abruptly stopped by some IN.
known cause. When observed from
the concave side 1t presents somewhat
the appearance of a conical seasbell 4,
displaying irregular concentric circles
In the center of these circles there i,
rounded indentation which indicate.
with comparative certainty that the
infiltration OF water holding silica in
solution is the cause of its formation
As already stated, the water stones
are found embedded in black Lawn
rock, which at one period was soft
and plant from volcanic heat. Silica
in a molten state may have dripped
on 1t, possibly falling from a great
height; and as this dripping continued
to bear on one point, the silica, which
slightly broadening Out would be d.
pressed In the center, thus causing the
underside 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 for some
time in soft, gelatinous condition,
but In heated atmosphere it would
remain plant infinitely longer. Thus
as the silica continued to sink the
lateral pressure of the lava on tho
silica gradually brought its 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 tho
water stones IL to be traced to the
more direct action Of molten silica,
the water they contain must have
found it, way in by some means after
the stone was formed. If this be the
case. there seems to be only one n
tional solution Of the problem-thst
the stone after completion must have
been submerged In water for long
time. possibly warm water, the heat
Of which would have caused slight
expansion in the silica. This being
united with pressure. in time the W.
ter may have filtered through to such
an extent az finally to fill the cavity.
Many hold that the water stone ID
fraud, since, they assert, If 1t b
left exposed for any length Of time
the water 1t contains will gradually
evaporate and finally disappear. But,
on the other hand, those who admit
that various cases Of this have o.
CURED point out that the evaporation
Of the water In all these instances Was
probably due to a slight fracture u
the stone. the result of carelessness OF
want of skill In the excavation. n
It Is also pointed out that there are
many water stones that have lain ID
museums and elsewhere from II to u
years, and that during that compare
lively long period the water IN the
stones has shown no perceptible dlmf
mutton. This. it IL contended, Is gum
cient proof that the water stone 10 nos
a fraud. but . very singular phenoH
enon. E#