<HTML>Sandy,
Thanks for the heartfelt and thoughtful response.
Let me back up a step though, and present you with what I see to be the overwhelming difficulty that KEEPS invading the geopolymer debate...
The presentation of "overwhelming" data on SEVERAL fronts at one time... and when someone can find a question on ONE piece, it ends up throwing out the entire theory.
Now, if we are to have an ongoing discussion of the theory... we will need to CAREFULLY stick to just ONE point at a time.
Like we did with the GOOP answer you gave above. That thread shows how we can tear down one objection at a time.
And we need to do it ... on objection at a time.
Now, as you know, my area is NOT chemistry or geology... but megalithic technologies. I can't BEGIN to debate zeolites, like it would appear Sandy did above (the other Sandy, that is... unless you've got multiple personality disorder, and you like debating with yourself on message boards...lol).
It is going to be up to ALL of us to keep each thread TIGHTLY focused on the ONE point about geopolymers that is being discussed. In this fashion, we can hash out any and all weaknesses... and maybe JOINTLY expose some strengths that had not been considered yet.
Only when this revolutionary theory is explained in its minute detail can it be expected. You're asking for a complete rethinking of ALL known engineering in a fairly well documented era of human history. Microscopic evidence is hard to accept. If we could "see" the slides, and understand the meaning behind them, it will be THAT much more pallatable a theory.
If we can explain HOW they lost the technology... when a perfectly good writing system and record keeping system was in place... then we will be closer to accepting it as a rational conclusion.
These things, and many, many more, need to be addressed one at a time.
I will be happy to bring them up... one at a time... and give you ample time to discuss them. Heck, I'll email the question to you a week before I post it, so that you have some lead time and the thread doesn't get ugly while we speculate "why" there's no answer forthcoming.
This could be a major victory for geopolymers, Sandy. I'm willing to do EVERYTHING imaginable to make it as fair and open as possible. If we do come across an insurmountable objection, though, are you willing to throw in the towel?
After all, that would be fair.
Looking forward to further communications,
Anthony</HTML>