The
rutile crystals are in nearly all cases imbedded in a compact red oxide
of iron that can be readily removed by hydrochloric acid, or by means
of some sharp instrument, leaving on the surfaces a mirror-like
polish. The crystals vary in length from 1/2 an inch up to 5
inches, and are in single crystals, twins, and vierlings, often in fine
groups. The rutile from this locality has realized at least $20,000 for
cabinet specimens, and has supplied the collections of the world
through the perseverance of Prof. Charles U. Shepard. The finest small
brilliant geniculated crystals are found at Millholland's Mills, White
Plains, near Liberty Church, and near Popular Springs, in Alexander
County, N. C. These have furnished some of the finest cut black rutile,
more closely approaching the black diamond in appearance than any other
gem. Some of the lighter colored ones furnish gems strongly resembling
common garnet. Beautiful long crystals, at times transparent red,
ranging from the thickness of a hair to 1/4 and in some
instances f inch across, and from 1 inch to 6 inches in length, often
doubly terminated and very brilliant, have been found at Taylorsville,
Stony Point and vicinity, North Carolina. Fine crystals are also found
in quartz as well as loose in the soil in Sadsbury Township, Pa., for
seven miles along the valley, especially near Parkesburgh, where double
geniculations forming complete circles have been found, some weighing
over a pound each. This is the "money stone" of the inhabitants of the
district, who search for it because they can obtain money for it from
the collectors ; hence the name. Some of the finer stones, as well as
the beautiful geniculated nigrine from Magnet Cove, would well serve
as natural ornaments. As early as 1836, the rutile of Middle-town,
Conn., was cut by Prof. Charles U. Shepard into gems that were almost
ruby-red in color. On St. Peter's Dome, in the Pike's Peak region,
jet-black rutile occurs as black tetragonal crystals about £ inch (10
millimeters) long.
Octahedrite
is reported as occurring in small crystals at Dexter's lime rock,
Smithfield, R. I., and in flat, tabular, glassy crystals of a
pale-green color and very brilliant, in the gold sands of Brindletown
Creek and elsewhere in Burke and the adjoining counties of North
Carolina. These would probably
