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Sec. IV, Ch. 1: Semi-Precious Stone, Agate

Sec. IV, Ch. 1: Semi-Precious Stone, Agate Page of 366 Sec. IV, Ch. 1: Semi-Precious Stone, Agate Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
The Agate.
237
fortress, it is called Fortification Agate. Moss Agates enclose green and brown mineral matter suggestive of vegetable growth, whilst Mocha Stones contain dendritic or branching markings of brown colour, due to oxide of manganese and perhaps iron.
In speaking of Oriental and Occidental Agate, we conventionally understand that all the most beautiful and translucent sorts belong to the Oriental, and the less valuable to the western variety.
Although very fine Agates are found in India, our supply is derived in large part from South America, though many other parts of the world also yield these stones. In the bed of the Rio Pardo, the Taquarie, and other rivers in Uruguay, Agate nodules are found in considerable quantities and often of large size. These are generally known as " Brazilian Agates," and are largely exported to the polishing mills of Germany. These mills, which are mostly carried on in the most primitive manner, are situated mainly in the neighbourhood of Oberstein, on the Nahe, a tributary to the Rhine at Bingen. The location of the Agate industry in this district 'was originally determined by the occurrence of Agates in the melaphyre rocks of the Galgenberg, where they were worked more than four centuries ago. The quarries, or rather mines—for the Agate rock was worked in subterranean tunnels—have been abandoned since the discovery of the Agate in Uruguay; but the work of cutting and polishing the stone is still carried on largely in the neighbouring villages.
In a district of 8-3/4 square miles, stand the two little towns of Oberstein and Idar, the chief centres of the Agate industry. Not only is a great proportion of the inhabi­tants of these towns in some way occupied in cutting, polishing, and colouring these stones, but for miles round
Sec. IV, Ch. 1: Semi-Precious Stone, Agate Page of 366 Sec. IV, Ch. 1: Semi-Precious Stone, Agate
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