Rao
Bahadur Dr. Narayana Iyer has asked me to be a curtain raiser and I am
very glad to comply, both because his book is of interest to me and
also because he is an old colleague of mine.
Dr.
Iyer's interest in gem-stones was first aroused when he was deputed to
carry out a geological survey of the Mogok Stone Tract of Upper Burma
in 1932, an area well known for its rubies and other gem-stones. In
this book, written in a popular way, and giving a description of the
more important precious and semi-precious stones, the author has
produced in convenient form a concise account of the subject that will
prove of interest to many in India-It is surprising how few gem-stones
are found in India proper. Once the only known source of diamond, India
produces now only a negligible quantity. The recent disÂcovery of
emerald in Rajpujtana, however, has aroused much interest; and as this
stone is similar in physical and chemical properties to beryl, which
occurs in abundance in that part of India, further finds may be
expected.
At
the present time the Indian market is flooded with imitation and
synthetic gem-stones. The former can readily be distinguished from the
natural stone; but the latter, in that the crystals synthesised have
the same physical and chemical properties as the natural stone, require
more erudition in their detection. Dr. Iyer disÂcusses this aspect of
the subject, and his discussion should prove useful to dealers in
gem-stones who have some knowledge of the physical properties of
crystals.
I recommend this book to all who are interested in gem-stones.
Calcutta,
W. D. West.
1-5-1947.
