to be similar in color. But chrysokfilla is found in large quantities in gold mines and even more in copper mines, as in the ones near the . . . districts.
But smaragdos is rare, as we have mentioned, for it seems to 27 be formed from iaspis. It is said that a stone was once found in Cyprus half of which was smaragdos and half iaspis, as if it had not yet been entirely changed from the watery state. It takes some work to make it shine, for in its natural condition it is not bright.
It is remarkable in its powers, and so is the lyngourionf* for 28 seals are cut from this too, and it is very hard, like real stone. It has the power of attraction, just as amber has, and some say that it not only attracts straws and bits of wood, but also copper and iron, if the pieces are thin, as Diokles used to explain. It is cold and very transparent, and it is better when it comes from wild animals rather than tame ones and from males rather than females; for there is a difference in their food, in the exercise they take or fail to take, and in general in die nature of their bodies, so that one is drier and the other more moist. Those who are experienced find the stone by digging it up; for when the animal makes water, it conceals this by heaping earth on top. This stone needs working even more than the other kind.
And since amber is also a stone—for the kind that is dug up 29 is found in Liguria—the power of attraction would belong to this too. The stone that attracts iron is the most remarkable and conspicuous example. This also is rare and occurs in few places. This stone too should be listed as having a similar power.
There are several other stones from which seals are cut, such 30 as the hyaloeides,27 which reflects images and is also transparent, and the anthrakjon™ and the omphax.™ There is also rock crystal, and the amediyst, and both of them are transparent; and these two and the sardion are found when certain rocks are cut through. And there are others, as has been mentioned before, which differ from one another, though they have the same name. For one type
26 Lynx-urine stone. Probably a variety of amber.
27 Glasslike stone. Its identification is uncertain, but some possibilities are discussed in the Commentary.
28 Mentioned again in sec. 33. For possible identification, see Commentary, sec. 33.
29 Apparently a green stone of some sort. The problem of its identification is discussed in the Commentary.
