Zoisite
is a silicate of alumina containing from 2 to 9 per cent, of oxide of
iron. Its quality, as found in the United States, has not been such as
to adapt it for use as a gem. Some beautiful specimens of
yellowish-brown and greenish-gray crystals have been found at the
Ducktown, Tenn., Copper Mines. The rose-red or thulite variety has been
found at Deshong's Quarry, Delaware County, Pa., but this is not as
handsome or as compact as the beautiful rose-red variety which occurs
in considerable quantities at Trondhjem, Norway, some of which has
been used for ornamental purposes.
No
crystals of axinite have been found in this country of sufficient size
to furnish gems. It has been observed near Bethlehem, Pa., at Cold
Spring, N. Y., and associated with essonite and idocrase at Phippsburg
and Wales, Me. The first-named locality, discovered by Prof. Frederick
Prime, Jr., is in Northampton County, about three miles north of
Bethlehem. Specimens from this place have been examined by Prof.
Benjamin W.