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Ch. 7: Opal

Ch. 7: Opal Page of 311 Ch. 7: Opal Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
160
PRECIOUS STONES.
Piedmont; in the Urals at Kossulina and Kolivan; near Bellary, in India.
It is distinguished from the Aventurine varieties of Felspar by its greater hardness.
12.  Varieties containing impurities are not of much importance in the present relation, though a few used to be cut at the beginning of the eighteenth century. The only kinds we need consider are: (1) Quartz, containing Gold in the form of filaments, or scattered particles; in America a considerable amount is cut for use as a fancy stone; but elsewhere it is not often used, except by those who have had to do with gold-mining. Material suitable for this purpose is found in Australia, South Africa, and particularly in the Western States of America. Similar inclusions of Silver are very rare. (2) Quartz containing Haematite. This is known also as Sinople, Hyacinth of Compostella, and Eisenkiesel. It is Quartz richly impregĀ­nated with the red oxide of iron, Haematite, from which it derives its blood-red colour. It has been used to imitate the variety of Zircon called Hyacinth, but is distinguished from it by its inferior specific gravity. It is found in beds of Gypsum at Compostella, in the north of Spain; also in Saxony, Bohemia, and Hungary. The iron mines of West Cumberland afford some very beautiful specimens, the colour in them possibly being due to Turgite, and not to Haematite. The Compostella specimens usually occur in short prisms, with a termination at each end.
13.  Quartz containing Liquids in Cavities. These forms, though of considerable scientific interest, are rarely used now for ornamental purposes, Some are cut in the United States as curiosities.
Ch. 7: Opal Page of 311 Ch. 7: Opal
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