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Sec. III, Ch. 1: The Ruby

Sec. III, Ch. 1: The Ruby Page of 366 Sec. III, Ch. 1: The Ruby Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
The Ruby.                                  159
was for some years Director of the Department of Mines in Siam. He considers that the Rubies have probably been derived from the disintegration of certain basaltic rocks, which formed their matrix. The principal Ruby-workings ate now at Bo Wen and Taphan Hin, in Chantaboon ; and at Bo Yan, Navong and Klong Kwang, in Krat. Rubies are also worked at Ho Klong, Klong Yai and elsewhere, on the east side of the Kao Patat.
Prof. H. Louis has also described the Ruby deposits of Moung Klung, between Chantaboon and Krat. He considers that the gem stones have been derived from the decomposition of the trap rocks, which occur so largely in the district.
The Sapphires, which are of far more importance in Siam than the Rubies, will be fully described in a sub­sequent chapter.
CEYLON RUBIES.
From time immemorial the island of Ceylon, or " Taprobane " as it was termed by the classical writers of antiquity, has been famous for precious stones. These are found in the form of rolled crystals and rounded fragments in detrital deposits in the valleys, spread over the lowlands, and in the sands of rivers. Shallow pits are dug by the natives in these deposits, and the gem stones separated from the associated earth by simply washing. The principal localities for the stones are in the neighbourhood of Ratna-pura, or the " City of Gems," and Rakwena. The gem-stones include various kinds of coloured Corundum, but Sapphires are much more common than Rubies. Moreover, the Ceylon Rubies are usually of pale colour, being rose-coloured rather than decidedly red, are of only small value, and are, in fact generally spoken of as fancy coloured Sapphires.
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