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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.                                191
occurs in the tin-drifts with other gems in the form of small rolled pebbles, associated in many cases with alluvial gold. The tin deposits south of Emmaville, and between that town and the Severn, have been specially rich in Sapphires. They have also been found in the drift near Crookwell; and at Tumberumba, Berrima, Mittagong and Kiandra. The Berrima Sapphires present a considerable variety of colour, including brown, bronze and honey-yellow ; some of the crystals are of large size, and the bronze-coloured varieties are notable for their high density, which may rise to 4-4, or even higher. In the opinion of the Rev. J. Milne Curran, who has paid much attention to the subject, the matrix of the New South Wales Sapphire is basalt ; and by the disintegration of this rock the stones are set free, and so find their way into the alluvia and drifts.
Queensland likewise yields Sapphires, especially near Withersfield, more than 200 miles from Rockhampton. Here they occur, with zircons and other gem stones, in a drift containing pebbles and boulders of quartz, resting on a decomposed surface of gneiss. Some of the Sapphires are of Royal blue colour, but most are dark blue ; a few are green, while others exhibit alternations of blue and green laminae. Unfortunately most of the Australian Sapphires cut too black, though now and then a small piece of really fine colour may be taken off the edge of a large stone.
In 1890, it was reported that a fine Sapphire had been found by Mr. T. Bakhop, of Lower Junction, Tasmania, on one of his properties in the north-eastern part of the island.
CANADIAN CORUNDUM.
Important deposits of Corundum have lately been discovered in the province of Ontario. It is true that they
Sec. III, Ch. 4: The Saffire Page of 366 Sec. III, Ch. 4: The Saffire
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