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102
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GEMS.
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on the sides of the receiver was precipitated a blackish dust, which presented no signs of crystallization.
Notwithstanding this failure, Desprez continued to make other experiments, but all equally in vain.
Finally,
Ebelman and Gaudin, who had discovered the method of crystallizing
boron, affirmed that - it might be hoped to produce even white boron,
perfectly similar to the diamond, by improving their process, and
taking from the crystallized boron all colouring material which makes
it resemble the ruby, the sapphire and other gems.
Making
the diamond, either by imitating Nature's plan or by using means partly
or wholly different in order to obtain the same end, is not yet an
accomplished fact ; nevertheless, in these days, it may be said that
nothing is impossible, and perhaps, soon, the chemist in his laboratory
may produce this gem which now is sought for with so much anxiety on
mountain precipices, in rivers, in the centre of Asia, of Africa and
America.
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XXXIV.
JASPER.
This is a dark quartz, very compact, capable of receiving a beautiful polish.
It received its name from the Greek term Ιασπα.
White jasper is very rare, and is always milky ; the brown and black are also rare ; but red, blue, yellow,
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