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Zmilampis, Cat's-eye

Topazius, Peridot Page of 384 Zmilampis, Cat's-eye Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
ZMILAMPIS.
319
ZMILAMPIS: ZMILACES : Cat's-eye?
Described by Pliny as found in the Euphrates, resembling Proconnesian marble, with a greenish-yellow colour in the centre—terms too vague to be of much assistance in identi­fying the gem intended, were they not elucidated by the fuller details supplied by the more technical Solinus (xx) ; " Zmilaces, a gem picked up in the bed of the Euphrates, in appearance like the Proconnesian marble,* except that in the middle convexity of the stone a green thing shines through like the pupil of the eye."
This exactly applies to our Cat's-eye, a transparent Quartz full of minute fibres of Asbestos, and of a yellow hue slightly tinged with green. Opalescent from its constitu­tion, it is always cut in a highly convex form, and of a long oval. The opalescence is thus confined to a narrow vertical streak of light, exactly resembling, from its contrast with tie yellowish green of the ground, the pupil of the feline eye at noon-day. That the ancients knew this stone there can be little doubt ; for it is very accurately described, and under its present name of Cat's-eye (Ainol. Hurr), by Ben Mansur, whose work faithfully represents a state of mineralogieal knowledge that had existed long before his period. He places it sixth on his scale of value, next to the Diamond : for strange to say he omits the Opal entirely.
Ceylon exclusively furnished it of old, as at present.
* The ' Bianco e nero antico,' according to Corsi.
Topazius, Peridot Page of 384 Zmilampis, Cat's-eye
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