264 THE DIAMOND
as fancies. Large and also very small stones are found, and the crystallization is usually very good.
The
Wesselton crystals are noted for their perfect octahedra and purity.
The color and brilliancy are so superior that very fine white diamonds
similar to river goods are now quoted as Wesselton. The average yield
of the mine does not however command as good a price as that of several
others.
The
kimberlite of the Jagersfontein mine is free from pyrites, and to that
is attributed the remarkable purity of color for which the stones of
this mine are celebrated. They are very brilliant and the color
inclines to blue. For this reason, " Jagers " command the highest price
of any South African diamonds, except blue rivers and some of the
fancies of the Dutoitspan. In common with all stones of this character,
they are very subject to bad flaws and what are termed carbon spots.
The percentage of flawy stones is so great that the average price of
rough from this mine is less than that of several others.
A
large percentage of the diamonds of the New Premier of the Transvaal is
bort. Of those suitable for gem purposes, many are characterized by an
oily luster similar to that of the zircon. The color inclines to blue,
often of a very deep tint, but it is frequently a false color, that is,
tints of other colors show in some lights. An unusual number of very
large stones has been found in this mine, some of them of extremely
fine color and purity.
The
Voorspoed promises to be a large producer of low grade diamonds. The
Roberts Victor on the contrary yields a good average of white fine
material. The dia-
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