IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL ROCK OR STONE
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stephen Henry Emmens, of 2, Gresham Buildings,
in the City of London, Scientific Referee, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL ROCK OR STONE."
Sealed the 9th February 1872, and dated the 19th August 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stephen Henry Emmens
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 19th August 1871,
I, STEPHEN HENRY EMMENS, of 2, Gresham Buildings, in the City of
London, Scientific Referee, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL ROCK OR
STONE," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the production of artificial rock or stone
by the admixture of decomposed granite either with silicates, sulphates,
chlorides, alkalies, and lime, and limestone, or with a bituminous material.
The Invention is carried out in the following manner:-I mix
decomposed granite with an alkaline solution and then boil the mixture;
this I triturate with lime or a salt of lime and drain off the supernatant

page_text: Decomposed granite
Alkaline base
Lime
100 parts.
50 parts.
30
13
According to the second method, and where the application of heat
is inconvenient, I mould or apply the decomposed granite mixed with
some soluble silicate, and then treat it with lime water until it sets.
The approximate proportions in this method are,―
Decomposed granite
Soluble silicate
Lime
•
100 parts.
80 ม
->
50 "
10
In the third method I mix the decomposed granite with chałk and
then treat the compound with sulphuric acid, after which I dry the 18
substance at a high temperature and "set" it as required by mixing
with lime water. The approximate proportions are,-
Decomposed granite
Chalk
Sulphuric acid & lime
60
•
100 parts.
93
80 "
In a fourth method I mix decomposed granite with bituminous
substances, and apply sufficient heat to secure the production of an
asphaltic cement amongst the particles of the granite, and while the
mixture is still hot I mould or apply it in any shape that may be desired,
and before it has quite cooled I "finish" the surfaces where desired
with hot irons. The proportions in this method are as follows:-
10 parts.
Vegetable or mineral tar
Decomposed amanita
•
100
20
25

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Stephen Henry Emmens, Her special
licence that I, the said Stephen Henry Emmens, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Stephen Henry
Emmens, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
“IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL ROCK OR STONE," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Stephen Henry Emmens,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Stephen Henry Emmens, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to the production of artificial rock or stone
by the admixture of decomposed granite either with silicates, sulphates,
chlorides, alkalies, and lime, and limestone, or with a bituminous
material.
I propose to mix decomposed granite with an alkaline solution, and
then boil the mixture; this I triturate with lime or a salt of lime, and
drain off the supernatant liquid, and allow the remaining mixture to
set in moulds or wherever it may be required to be applied, which
mixture after setting may be "fired" if desired.
According to the second method, and where the application of heat
is inconvenient, I mould or apply the decomposed granite mixed with
some soluble silicate, and then treat it with lime water until it sets.
In the third method I mix the decomposed granite with chalk, and
then treat the compound with sulphuric acid, after which I dry the

page_text: substance at a high temperature, and "set" it as required by mixing with
lime water.
.
In a fourth method I mix decomposed granite with bituminous
substances, and apply sufficient heat to secure the production of an
asphaltic cement amongst the particles of the granite, and while the 5
mixture is still hot I mould or apply it in any shape that may be.
desired, and before it has quite cooled I "finish" the surfaces where
desired with hot irons.
:
As regards the first method, which consists in the causticizing of the
alkaline solution in the presence of the silica to be combined, thus 10
- rendering the alkaline base nascent, an operation which is assisted by
the peculiar form of silica employed, the approximate proportions of
ingredients to be in this first method employed are, decomposed
granite, 100 parts; alkaline base, 50 parts; lime, 30 parts.
.. As regards the second methed, that is, the alternate decomposition 15
and recomposition of the soluble silicate in the presence of the granite
and the lime until the whole mass becomes solidified, the approximate
proportions of ingredients to be employed are, decomposed granite,
100 parts; soluble silicate, 80 parts; lime, 50 parts.
As regards the third method, the formation of calcio silicate by the 20
simultaneous production of nascent lime and nascent silica, and its
subsequent union with sulphate of lime amongst the particles of the
granite, the approximate proportions of ingredients to be employed
in this third method are, decomposed granite, 100 parts; chalk, 60
parts; sulphuric acid and lime, 30 parts.
25
•
As regards the fourth method, viz., the production of a bituminous
cement amongst the particles of the decomposed granite which shall be
analogous to the water of crystallization or other natural cement in the
original rock, and shall thus reconstitute the solid body with the
additional advantages of elasticity and impermeability to water, the 30
mixture may be made in varying proportions and by various methods,
according to the particular use for which the manufactured product
is destined, but generally speaking the proportions and method that
I prefer to employ are as follows:-I heat 10 parts of vegetable or
mineral tar in a suitable vessel, and to this I gradually add 100 parts 35
of decomposed granite either in its raw state or burnt, according
"to the nature of the product required, in either case taking care to
⚫ strongly heat the granite before mixing. I then urge the heat so as to
•

page_text: drive off the more volatile constituents of the tar, and to leave a coating
of pitch on each particle of the granite. This done I add about 30 parts
of bitumen with occasionally one part of fatty or oleaginous matter, and
where hardness of texture is required about 2 parts of sulphur either.
in lieu of or in conjunction with some 30, parts of carbonate of lead or
other metallic salt or oxide, and I then continue to beat the mixture
until the same is thoroughly incorporated and in a sufficiently viscid
or plastic condition for moulding or for use in other ways, such as
building, paving, &c.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim, the
several improved compositions or admixtures of ingredients as herein-
before set forth in which decomposed granite froms the base.
.
In witness whereof, I, the said Stephen Henry Emmens, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this 17th day of February One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
•