354 University of California Publications. [Geology
Lately
some very good results have been obtained by the use of the emerald cut
which gives good color-value with but slight loss of brilliancy. A
number of the stones have also been cut en cabochon. This
allows the use of the less perfect material and also of that which
varies considerably in color in the same piece, containing perhaps with
the deep blue certain areas without color. The results have been quite
satisfactory.
Name. The
name of the mineral was taken from San Benito, the name of the county
in which the mine lies, of the river, at the headwaters of which the
deposit occurs, and of a nearby peak of the range.11
NEPTUNITE.
Crystallography. Neptunite
is an abundant and characteristic mineral of the deposit. Prior to its
discovery in California it had been reported only from Greenland.12
In the original benitoite material a small section of a prism without
terminal faces was suspected to be a new mineral and the name carlosite
suggested for it. Soon after the mine was visited satisfactory material
was obtained and its identity with neptunite recognized.
