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MATRIX
Opal and turquoise, where they occur in small and irregular veins, are often cut together with the matrix for jewels, and are then known in the trade as opal matrix and turquoise matrix. With the opal the matrix often takes as fine a polish as the gem it encloses, and the combination is pleasing. If the small bits of the precious stone are full of color and fire, as they frequently are, the effect is not unlike the flash of an imprisoned spirit from the dark cell in which nature confined it. The play of light and color is intensified by the opaque darkness of the matrix, with which it is intermingled, and is both beautiful and fascinating. As little good rough comes into the market, there has not been sufficient of late for the demand. Poor grades are to be had, but they are not satisfactory, only pieces containing strong lights of good color finding favor.
Turquoise matrix has also been used of late in large quantities. That with a dark-brown matrix is most favored, as the mottling of brown in the blue produces a much richer effect than the lighter or chalky matrix. The turquoise of some American mines occurs in a flinty matrix. Both the gem and the matrix of this character are unusually hard, and both, cut separately or together, take a high polish, but it is found that the flint often penetrates the turquoise and renders it, cut either way, liable to break after being polished.
Matrix is cut en cabochon, and is used principally for brooch, pendant, and chain settings.
Some emerald matrix from the North Carolina emerald-mine has been cut. It met with a ready sale at first, but the matrix proved to be friable, so that after cutting, parts of the
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