more especially at Guysborough. This mineral, when in perfect crosses, finds some sale in Switzerland for charms.
Diopside
is found as a rock-constituent in many localities in the Laurentian
area. At Calumet Falls, Que., it occurs in crystals 6 inches long,
though not of gem value.
Scapolite
or wernerite occurs in large cleavable masses in a limestone at
Grenville, Que., and Bathurst, Ont. When free from the lilac-colored
crystals of pyroxene with which it is associated, it admits of a good
polish, but is of little value, if any, in the arts.
Ilvaite
has been found in a boulder about a foot in diameter in the vicinity of
Ottawa, Ont., and is believed to form a bed in the Laurentian series.
It has little value as a gem, but is occasionally used for the letter I
in sentimental jewelry.
Sodalite
in fine blue grains has been found in the granite of Brome, Que., in
seams at Montreal, Que., and in veins several inches wide on the line
of the Canadian Pacific Railway, at Kicking Horse Pass, B. G, by Dr. B.
J. Harrington. It is occasionally used in the arts.
Lazulite is reported from the Hudson Bay district, but of little gem value even when of fine color.
Prehnite
is associated with native copper and calcite in the Lake Superior
region, where it is often of a rich green color, in spherical masses of
crystals an inch across, or in aggregations even larger, affording a
curious green stone resembling a chrysoprase. Fine specimens occur at
Clifton, Clark's Head, and Black Rock, Kings County, N. S.
The
titanites of Canada have a world-wide reputation, not only for their
color, their polish, and the perfection of the crystals, but also for
their great size. A twin crystal of this mineral has been found on
Turner's Island, in Lake Clear, weighing 80 pounds. They occur
abundantly in this region, associated with apatite. The crystals are
generally of such deep brown color as to appear black. It is rare that
even a small transparent gem could be cut from them; as crystals,
however, they are unexcelled, and many thousand dollars' worth have
been sold as specimens. The finest are found in Renfrew County,
especially in Sebastopol and Brudenell Townships, Ont.
