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Ch. 9: The Feldspar Group, including Amazonite, Moonstone, Sunstone, etc.

Ch. 9: The Feldspar Group, including Amazonite, Moonstone, Sunstone,  etc. Page of 364 Ch. 9: The Feldspar Group, including Amazonite, Moonstone, Sunstone,  etc. Text size:minusplusRestore normal size  Mail page Print this page
UNITED STATES, CANADA AND MEXICO                      165
ous white variety occurring at the Cullakenee Mine, Clay County, also large crystals in the trap at Shiloh Church. On the road to Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and near Bakersville, North Carolina, specimens showing a slight blue chatoyancy are also found. This domestic labradorite is scarcely used at all in the arts, as the mineral from Labrador is cheaper and of a much superior quality, and takes a finer polish.
At Pike's Peak, Col, amazonstone is found in cavities in a coarse pegmatite granite with smoky quartz crystals, often of huge size, flesh-colored and white feldspars. When associated with smoky quartz, it makes a most pleasing and effective miner-alogical combination. The mineral here is finer than any found elsewhere. Many thousand amazonstone crystals of the most
LABRADORITE
beautiful green color have been obtained, measuring from 1/2 inch to over 12 inches in length and of different shades of green, from the lightest and most delicate to a deep apple-green. The crys­tals are often in groups, the bases of which are covered with white albite. The finest group of this character is in the New York State Museum in Albany, and the finest single crystals are in the collections of Clarence S. Bernent of Philadelphia and Frederick A. Canfield of Dover, N. J. When this mineral was first exhibited at the World's Fair in Philadelphia, in 1876, it proved a great surprise to many, but especially to the Russians, who had brought over some small crystals valued at what would now be considered fabulously high prices. Some of it is cut into gems or ornamental stones, and large quantities are still sold annually to tourists. Several lo­calities in North Carolina also furnish this mineral. Rockport, Mass., formerly afforded many finely colored pieces. Some fine green crystals have also been found at Paris, Me., and at Mount
Ch. 9: The Feldspar Group, including Amazonite, Moonstone, Sunstone,  etc. Page of 364 Ch. 9: The Feldspar Group, including Amazonite, Moonstone, Sunstone,  etc.
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