comparable
in beauty to the Peruvian emeralds, but none are now in the museums and
none, so far as the writer knows, have since been found. In the United
States emeralds are found in important quantities only in North
Carolina. Abroad they are obtained in Colombia, the Urals, Austria, and
upper Egypt.
AQUAMARINE.
The
light-blue to sky-blue and light-green transparent varieties of beryl
known as aquamarine are more abundant than any of the other gem
varieties of beryl found in Maine, and specimens of remarkable size and
beauty have been obtained. The prismatic crystals lie in various
positions in the solid pegmatite masses and are more commonly
associated with quartz than with the other constituents. Few of them
occur in pockets. Their position in the solid ledge renders it
difficult to obtain the crystals without more or less fracturing. Some
few crystals come from quarries which are worked primarily for feldspar
or for tourmalines, but the principal supply, like that of golden
beryl, is obtained by gem collectors who work small prospects, using
hand drills and light blasts of powder.
Most
of the gem material has come from Oxford County. Some has been obtained
from what is known as the Emmons mine in the southwestern part of
Greenwood, from Frenchs Mountain in Albany, Sugar Hill in Stoneham, and
Lovell, Bethel, and other towns. A fine sea-green aquamarine weighing
about 7 carats was found near Sumner. Recently some good gems have
been obtained on the Dudley farm in Buckfield.
The
price obtained at retail for the cut stones ranges from $4 to $15 per
carat for perfect stones, depending on the size and color. Most of the
stones now obtained in Maine are cut and marketed within the State.
GOLDEN BERYL.
Beautiful
transparent golden-yellow beryls have been obtained in the pegmatites
at various points in Oxford County, at Edgecomb Mountain in Stoneham,
in Albany, and recently good gem material of a straw yellow has been
obtained from the west side of Speckled Mountain in Peru. They are
mined sporadically by gem collectors, mostly from small prospects. The
retail prices obtained for flawless cut stones of this variety vary
from $10 to $25 per carat, depending upon the size and color. Nearly
all that are found are sold to residents or to visitors, and as native
Maine gems command a higher price than they would in the general
markets.
