Brazil; but the exact locality in none of these countries has yet been ascertained by writers. Kunz states that all the chrysolite sold in modern times is taken out of old jewelry, often two centuries old, so that it is likely that the old localities are either forgotten or ex­hausted. Recently, however, quite an amount of good chrysolite has come from a locality in Upper Egypt, near the Red Sea, and this is doubtless one of the old sources of supply. The chrysolites at present available are not of very large size, rarely exceeding an inch in diam­eter. They are, however, of fine color and transparency, and make a desirable gem when not exposed to hard usage. For ring stones they scratch and wear away too easily. Excellent small chrysolites come from Arizona and New Mexico, being found in sand in connec­tion with the pyrope garnets previously mentioned. The chrysolite is locally called "Job's tears," on account of its pitted appearance. Chrysolite is an essential constituent of meteorites, and the grains sometimes occur in these bodies of sufficient size and transparency to be cut into gems of about a carat each. Such stones have a peculiar interest on account of their origin. Chrysolite is frequently mentioned in the Bible and in ancient litera­ture; but it is pretty certain that much of the chrysolite so named was our topaz. If this is true, the chrysolite of the ancients was found on the island of Topazios, in the Red Sea. Diodones Siculus says of the stone there that it was not discernible by day, but was bright at night, so that it could be seen by patrols. They would cover the luminous spot with a vase, and the next day come and cut out the rock at the place indicated, when, upon polishing, the gem would appear. The name chrysolite was also applied in former times to a number of other yellow gems, such as zircon and beryl, stones of a similar color being then usually classed together. Powdered chryso­lite was used as a remedy for asthma, and held under the tongue was believed to lessen thirst in fever.
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