Rapid Geological Transformation.
It is a generally-accepted theory that quartz and sandstone are geological formations which require thousands of years to form. A few days ago, in Virginia City, Conductor Havenor showed the editor of the Appeal a specimen of quartz which could not have existed over fifteen years ago. The quartz in question was taken out of the Yellow Jacket mine from between the timbers. The timbers were put in fifteen years ago, and the matter forming the quartz had apparently oozed through a crack and adhered to the timber. It was about the size and had the appearance of a cauliflower. There was a mass soft and crumbling to the touch, and in places woven together like threads; and in this mass, and a part of it, were three distinct and perfectly formed quartz crystals. The mass had been pushed through the crack while in a plastic state, and then formed in the bunch described.