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90 NATURAL HISTORY OF GEMS.
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CHRYSOPRASIUS : ×ñõó6ôôñáóïs;.
After noticing
the existence of several kinds of green-coloured gems not considered
worth a particular description, Pliny defines the Prasius, and then
proceeds to state that there was a superior variety of the same, the Chrysoprasius, also
of the same leek-green tint, but " receding somewhat from the Peridot's
into a golden." It occurred of such dimensions that the oval cups
termed cymbia (the gondoles of the French) were formed
out of it. This last circumstance proves of itself that the stone would
now be referred to the class of green Jaspers, in which several of
these antique vases are still remaining, and have been fully noticed
under Smaragdus. His Chrysoprasius, however, as distinguished
from the above, is the third kind of his Beryl, approximating to the
Chrysoberyllus, but still paler or yellower, and considered by some as
belonging to a distinct species. This latter supposition was to all
appearance correct, and the stone in question the Indian Chrysolite.
Most certainly it was not our Chrysoprase, Silica coloured a
beautiful apple-green by oxide of Nickel, slightly translucent, and of
uncommon hardness. Had the ancients known the latter gem, they must
have classed it amongst the more opaque Smaragdi: it is more probable
they were unacquainted with it, for its only source at present is the
mine of Rosemutz,* in Silesia. Although of much the same com-
* Where it occurs in veins traversing Serpentine.
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