Evening star., 1923-12-03
Steel Bombs Aid IL,
Magic Feat of
TrUTlSnlIItUtiOn.
BY HAROLD X. PHILIPS.

Synthetic minerals, to be followed
in few months by synthetic rocks
man made reproductions of mother
earth's finest workmanship manufac-
tured in less than a millionth of the
estimated time required by nature
herself. These are the latest won
ders Of modern science.
They are the fruits of years of pa
tient research and laborious hours In
the laboratory; of hazardous expert
ments with powerful machines capa-
BILE Of exerting pressure of 100000
pounds to the square inch-all car
ried to their present stage of success
at the geophysical laboratory of the
Carnegie Institution of Washington.
To manufacture minerals and
rocks. science is simply duplicating
natures processes, but is accomplish
ing the same results on much
working day. Nature took bewilder
the vast forges of the earth; science
is fabricating its copies in few
highly polished and innocent looking
little steel bombs
Duplication of Minerals.
Among the minerals thus far du-
plicated at the geophyslcal labora- :
tory are the silicateS of lime, aluml-
ma and magnesia. For example, alum
mum si1icate, one of the componentS
of porcelain; calcium ortho- -silicate,
which is an important element IN
Portland cement; quartz, the natu-
raj product of which Is now being
used for the manufacture of crys-
tai beads; cristobalite and tridymlte.
which have exactly the same chem-
ical components as quartz. but are
IN
jadeite, important constituent OF
jade-so popular in commercial Jew
elry and statuary today.
Soon the bureau plans 10 conouct
experiments that will result in the
manufacture of granite, exactly the
same rock that is used for building
purposes and tombstones. 1t simply
Will be the next step forward in the
Having duplicated nature in the
manufacture of minerals, II Will now
combine these minerals TO genuine
rocks, the most important materials
forming granite belnS quartz ieio
spar and mica.
Heat and Pressure Used.
Mother earth manufactured her min
erals and rocks, science has learned.
by means of extreme heat and extreme
pressure. That is about the only process
used at the geophysical LABORATORY.
First the materials known 10 De con-
are poured into a tiny tube made OF
Dure platinum, one end OF which IS
sealed by solid gold. The opposite END
is then sealed and this container placed
in the bomb.
Tie bomb" Is made of the finest steel
obtainable Its aperture is small and
its walls extremely thick IN conpari-
son, all making it capable OF with.
standing the terrifice tests 1t Is about
to undergo. A. small electric furnace,
made of the same, although impure
constituents of rubies. is placed In the
bomb" and the apparatus sealed.
Then it is ready for the ordeal OF scar
ing heat and gigantic pressures.
Both are applied gradually. the
heat sometimes being permitted 10
register as high as $500 degrees
Fahrenheit and the pressure as much
as 5000 pounds to the square inch;
Gradually the gauges creep up. ana
up and up. Suddenly they relax ana
the pressure drops. The watchful
attendants know something has
happened inside the bomb and the
heat and pressure are quickly turned
off. When the platinum container is
cut open the mineral particles or
rocks, whichever the case might be.
are found inside.
Copies Often Purer.
Not only are these materials the
replicas of natures own products.