$100 a year at present; but it is probable that this amount will be increased in the near future by the Pike's Peak production.
Beryl, emerald, aquamarine.—Emerald
has been found at Stony Point,(a) Alexander county, North Carolina, in
crystals, some from eight to tea inches in length associated with
hiddenite, rutile, and garnet. The crystals as a rule have a white
core, and although as mineral specimens they are grand, yet few gems
have been found up to the present time, and these of second grade.
Future developments may, however, bring some fine gems to light. Beryl,
spodumene, and the associated minerals have been found on the Lyons
property, adjoining that of the Emerald and Hiddenite Mining Company.
Aquamarine
has been found at a number of localities in America, the principal
among them being Royalston, Massachusetts; Actworth, New Hampshire;
Grafton, Vermont; Burke county, and Stony Point, North Carolina; Paris,
Maine; Fitchburg, Massachusetts; and Avon-dale, Pennsylvania. The
richest known gems from any known locality have been found at
Eoyalston, (b) Massachusetts, and although small are almost as
blue as the sapphire. Large clear gems of a light-blue and sea-green
tint have been found at Actworth, Grafton, and Stony Point, at the
latter locality shading into the beryl-emerald. At Stoneham, Maine, two
fine crystals have been found in a pasture; one of which will furnish a
fine blue gem over 20 karats in weight. The crystal of which only one
half was found is 5 inches long and 1 inch across; it is equal in color
to any from Siberia, but has been badly broken by frost or by the hand
of some one who was ignorant of its value. , The entire amount of beryl
gems found in the United States in the last ten years would not bring
over $2,000, and they are scarcely known to others than collectors.
Phenakite.—Phenakite
has recently been found at Pike's Peak, Colorado, (c) in crystals of
sufficientsize and quality to furnish fair gems. Some fair sized
crystals of remarkable clearness were found here recently. They are
equal in point of quality to any found elsewhere, and further finds may
produce crystals equal in size to those from Siberia. Though rare, this
gem is colorless, and hence its value is almost purely mineral-ogical.
Zircon.—Zircon
has not yet been found in this country in pieces sufficiently large or
good to warrant cutting. Some very small crystals of good color have
been found in Burke county, North Carolina, and the ends of some of the
Saint Lawrence county, New York, zircons might cut into very small
imperfect gems; but nothing further of more than mineralogical value
has been found. Garnets.—The garnets found in New Mexico and Southern Colorado,
