There are about $400 worth of uncut specimens. No work was done here in 1884.
The
beryl locality at Stoneham (a), Maine, has yielded fully $700 worth of
gems and specimens to the different workers, one crystal selling at $75
for gem material. Some very fine blue beryls were found here.
The
topaz locality, though it produced no topaz, from other minerals
yielded the workers over $500 by the sale of herderite, columbite, and
associated minerals.
Work
was suspended by the mining company at Stony Point, North Carolina, at
the end of August, 1883, and was resumed for about two weeks during
July of 1884. Since July, 1883, perhaps $500 has been realized from the
work done. The work of 1883 brought to ligbt some of the finest
crystals that have yet been found, for color, but of secondary gem
value. The largest of these was about 3 inches long and very perfect.'
The two weeks' work of 1884 discovered a few very fine quartz crystals
containing rutile, and some containing asbestus or byssolite (?); also
very fine rutile crystals, though no gems. When work will be resumed
is not definitely known. The adjoining property is reported to have
been purchased with a view to working at some future time. The
indications on Mr. John Lackey's property look very well for the class
of minerals found in this section.(b)
Since
October, 1882, the Pike's peak topaz and phenakite locality has been
searched to some extent, and the topaz and phenakite taken from it thus
far would be valued at fully $1,500, one crystal of topaz being held at
$100, and one phenakite also at fully this amount. Two topaz gems cut
from the stones found here were worth fully the same each after the
cutting.
The
Crystal peak locality, near Florissant, Colorado, has yielded perhaps
$1,000 worth of topaz, some specimens associated with phenakite and on
amazonstone, and a number of fine amazoustone crystals.
A
number of stones enumerated here, although below 7 in hardness, and
even below 6, may suggest to some that they are too soft for any gem or
ornamental uses. Thus apatite and fluorite are too soft for cut gems,
yet beautiful cups, vases, etc., can be made of the latter. Serpentine
and catlinite could be successfully worked where apatite could not,
because they are opaque and do not show scratches, and an even, good
color will always appear. It is only by adapting any mineral to its
proper use that it can be made a success.
One
of the finest displays of gem minerals since 1876 was the North
Carolina exhibit in the fall of 1883 at the Mechanics' Fair at Boston.
