What kind of solution do you put on charcoal that forms crystals?

Question

When I was in girl scouts we made up a solution, mixed with food coloring, and poured it over charcoal. In time beautiful crystals formed. I would like to find out what the solution was made out of to show this to my Grandchildren.

Answer 1

http://www.google.com/search?q=grow+crys...

Answer 2

Was it a sugar dissolved in water ?

Rock-candy is made from sugar coming out of solution and being deposited onto crystals.

I suspect that your process may be something similar.

Answer 3

salt, ammonia and food coloring