Kinetics of dissolution of quartz, its solubility and a heavy phase formation in Na2CO3, and NaOH solution under temperature 100degreesC, 200degreesC and 320degreesC and filling of autoclaves at 76% and 79% were studied. The etching surface of quartz bars after the runs is characterized. For the evaluation of entrapped solid inclusions and water-bearing nonstructural contaminations against the growth rate of quartz crystals, the accelerated method was developed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.