One man's trash is another man's treasure. So it is with volcanic ash deposited along the Pacific Ring of Fire.
The ancient Romans were known to have devised a unique method of using volcanic ash in the formation of hyper-durable concrete, which has allowed many of their buildings to survive for thousands of years without so much as a scratch.
Sadly, the precise recipe has long since been lost to the ages, just as with many other ancient inventions, such as Greek Fire. But its resurrection would be one of the greatest discoveries of all time.
Which brings us to the modern world. Concrete production is as environmentally damaging as it is unsustainable. A particular type of beach-born sand is required, and its industrial harvesting is destroying entire ecosystems.
Meanwhile, millions of cubic tons of volcanic ash from eruptions such as that of Mount St Helens in the 1980s have completely ruined otherwise pristine habitats. Even decades later, the affected rivers, lakes and reservoirs have been rendered undrinkable.
If ever there were a need for the reinvention of Roman concrete, it would be now. Having been proven possible, a thorough study of such a material would likely yield key insights into its construction. And its modern uses would prove vital to human civilization.
Add new comment