The Stone Tape Theory

           Since the early 1970s the Stone Tape Theory has been one of the most prolific ideas in many attempts to explain the mechanics of EVP phenomenon. The Stone Tape Theory is based on the suggestion that various natural and man made materials that contain certain types of crystalline compounds are able to absorb a limited measure of bioelectric energy from living beings, amplify them and potentially “replay” them at a later time. It is believed that crystalline materials, such as quartz, have properties within their natural structure that make them more prone to absorbing, “recording,” and amplifying the bioelectric energy projections from events that would have a greater than average probability of bioelectric activity.

Why Quartz?

           Quartz is found in nearly every geological environment worldwide and is a component of almost every type of rock or stone. If we look into the structural nature of quartz it would seem that it, and other minerals like it, tend to be prone to absorbing and amplifying energy naturally, as in a piezoelectric circuit. Piezoelectric quartz crystals expand under the application of electrical voltage, but when the cycle reverses and the quartz crystal contracts or is compressed it generates voltage. It would seem that from the standpoint of the creation and / or retention of electrical pulses that the very structure of quartz is what gives it the inherent abilities to amplify energy.
The scientific formula for quartz is SiO2, silicon dioxide. Quartz is not the only mineral composed of SiO2 however. There are no less than eight other known mineral structures that are composed of the same SiO2 compound as quartz. These substances, having qualities similar to those found in quartz, are polymorphs of silicon dioxide and belong to an informal mineral group called the Quartz Group.
Quartz has a unique heliocentric structure that is created from chains of silicon tetrahedrons. The helix takes four tetrahedrons in order to repeat itself where each tetrahedron is rotated 120 degrees every three turns. The heliocentric chains are aligned along the C axis of the crystal and are interconnected by two other heliocentric chains at each tetrahedron making quartz a true tectosilicate. Because quartz is a true tectosilicate its structure creates an unbroken “chain” that amplifies energies on a microcrystalline level.

Iron Oxide Enigma

           If the Stone Tape Theory holds true for structures and natural areas that have significant amounts of materials such as stone, brick or concrete that contain quartz, silica, or other crystalline materials that could capture or amplify resonant energy waves how would that line of thought work for structures that have little or no significant amounts of these materials? What about natural areas devoid of any discernable trace of these substances or buildings constructed from wood or other materials that do not possess the inherent ability to capture or amplify paranormal energies?

           Structures that are built from wood are usually fastened together with nails or screws. Fiberglass and metal buildings are subject to the same construction methods. The metal fasteners utilized to hold the structures together, ductile iron pipes and other materials of this nature, in time, will begin to oxidize. In some cases the building it self, if made from certain materials, will begin to oxidize as well. This oxidation is called rust. Yes, common rust – iron oxide – can potentially be named as the culprit in some instances of paranormal activity.

           How? In order to move forward, we must look back – back to the days when cassette tapes were considered to be the newest revolutionary phenomenon in the audio visual field. The tapes used a ribbon of composite materials to record sounds from a source. In and amongst these materials were micro-fine bits of iron oxide dust. In a rather crude attempt to explain how this process worked the “rust dust” on the tape would be passed over the recording component of the tape recorder where it was electromagnetically charged by an amplified signal that originated at the microphone. This electromagnetic signal would pulse over the recording device head and onto the iron oxide laden tape which would create an embedded magnetic charge that could be played back at will.

           Electromagnetism? Rust? One is an intangible force and the other represents the structural break down of ferrous metals. How can two items that are so dissimilar have anything to do with paranormal activity? The key is ferromagnetism. Ferromagnetism is the form of magnetism which most people are familiar with, the qualities of which are
demonstrated in objects as simple as the everyday refrigerator magnet. Ferromagnetism is responsible for most of the magnetic behavior encountered in everyday life and all
permanent magnets – like those on your refrigerator - are ferromagnetic. Metals such as iron and steel are considered to be ferrous metals – meaning that these are materials that can hold a magnetic charge. Rust, being a byproduct of iron and steel, is ferrous and becomes ferromagnetic when it is passed over the recording component of the tape recorder. As shown in the example of the tape recorder rust, under the right conditions, can become magnetized when strong bioelectric fields are applied to it thusly becoming capable of recording events and storing them much like a tape would for later release.

           Additionally, it is of interesting note that there are a number of crystalline materials that exhibit properties of ferromagnetism and while it would be rather extraneous to go into detail about it here it is safe to say that these materials could potentially harbor paranormal energies as well.

           Armed with the above insight it is now easy to understand how rust can bear a magnetic “recording” charge much like iron, steel and any other ferrous metal from which it has come. The ability to be charged with magnetic, electromagnetic or bioelectric energies, such as those that are emanated by ghosts, may cause areas and / or
structures to have inherent energy recording properties and qualities that are similar to those that have quartz or silica in them as identified in the Stone Tape Theory. These properties are potentially what would cause an area to have an abnormally high probability of storing and potentially re-projecting bioelectric energies at a later time.

The Key to “Repeat Hauntings?”

            Although there are opponents of the various “repeat haunting” theories the Stone Tape Theory and the Iron Oxide Enigma may actually help paranormal researchers to make a determination one way or another in the case of conclusive validity for these cases.

           Paranormal researchers currently theorize that most haunted areas generally tend to have been a very emotion laden scene such as a battle or a murder, or they could have been a very important event in time from the point of view of the participants. During the time that the events were being played out, some of the bioelectric energies may have been absorbed by the building or area that the participants were in. The area has now become imprinted, recording the bioelectric energies that had been expelled into the local environment by the participants. This energy can be stored for an unspecified amount of time and the replay is often triggered by a witness with the correct attributes that may be sympathetic to the event or who is psychically sensitive enough to trigger the cell. Stress, elevated emotional levels and such can also act as a trigger to release the energies that have been absorbed by the local environment. Once the trigger has been activated the absorbed energy is then “replayed” much like a DVD in a DVD player.

           The released energies can then manifest as a “classical” ghost image or perhaps simply as sounds such as voices or footsteps. Consequently, the scene that is being replayed may have nothing to do with the people who were originally there, as they are probably no longer alive or associated with the location. The released energies are now simply acting as a record of what took place in times long ago.

           The Stone Tape Theory and The Iron Oxide Enigma present a line of rationale that, when coupled with the supporting scientific evidence of the First Law of Thermodynamics, is both supportive of the occurrence of paranormal anomalies and posits a potential mechanism for their existence as well.
 

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