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Sec. III, Ch. 4: The Saffire

Sec. III, Ch. 4: The Saffire Page of 366 Sec. III, Ch. 4: The Saffire Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
The Sapphire.
189
fractured and splintered, and differing somewhat from the ordinary Sapphire crystals of other well-known localities, where the prevailing form is that of the double hexagonal pyramid. The Montana stones present almost all colours and shades, including greens, violets, yellows, blues and pinks. The variety of delicate tints is extraordinary; and, when well cut, the brilliancy of the stones is remarkable, being inferior only to that of Diamonds, Many of the stones have triangular markings, somewhat similar to those on the Diamonds of South Africa. It is notable that some of the Sapphires of green and light blue shades become purple or red by artificial light. The lapidaries who have cut them pronounce the stones to be unusually tough, and their extreme hardness will enable them to sustain wear without loss of lustre. Their brilliancy and beauty should bring them into favour with all lovers of true gems. The different forms of crystal, and their colours, are represented in the accompanying plate.
The author, on visiting the property, mined several thousand carats of gem-stones. Among them he found a very curious-crystal of Sapphire with a red stone embedded in the centre, (see plate). The Sapphires are most plenti­ful at or near the bed-rock of the old river-terraces or bars, many of which are from 100 feet to 200 feet above the present channel. These dry river-terraces are for the most part covered with alluvial deposits of sand and gravel, varying from a few inches to 20 feet in thickness. All this alluvial detritus carries gold in paying quantity, and a simple hydraulic apparatus is all that is required to mine rapidly and cheaply for both Sapphires and gold.
The rocks in the vicinity of the mines are limestone, quartzite, and dark argillaceous slate, probably of Lower Silurian age. The bed-rock of the bars or river-terraces,
Sec. III, Ch. 4: The Saffire Page of 366 Sec. III, Ch. 4: The Saffire
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