kind.
These crystals are equal in quality to many of the finest of the same
size from Siberia, and one fragment of good color but flawed has been
found here which weighed 2 pounds. The crystals found in this locality,
over one hundred in all, during fourteen months, have sold for nearly
$1,000, at a valuation of from 50 cents to $100 each. At Crystal peak,
near Pike's peak, on large amazonstone crystals, topaz is found of a
slightly different type, with phenakite, and also different in form,
from the Pike's peak variety. Some occur over 1 inch long and quite
thick. Prof. J. E. Clayton, of Salt Lake City, visited the locality
mentioned, and it was also visited by Lieutenant Simpson in 1847. Here
the topaz occurs in some isolated mountains west of the Sevier lake,
and 140 miles southwest of Salt Lake. City by the road. The rock is an
eruptive overflow of trachyte full of amyrgdaloidal
cavities, in which the topaz crystals are found; they are also
disseminated through the body of the rock. The crystals are usually
small, from 1 to 100 millimeters long, and from 5 to 8 millimeters
across. The wine color, yellow, and blue are very uncommon, the general
color being limpid white; they are very brilliant and of remarkable
transparency, closely resembling the Durango, Mexico, and the Chaffee
county, Colorado, varieties, especially the latter, which in- the same
rock is associated with small fine crystals of garnet. In the scarcity
of water the locality presents almost insuperable obstacles, but will
no doubt be revisited in the near future. The Stoneham, Maine,
locality has furnished scarcely a fair crystal during the year. Genth
and Kerr(a) mention that the Crowder's mountain topaz is very doubtful,
proving on examination to be kyanite. - Pycnite occurs in fine
columnar aggregations of a yellowish and brownish-yellow color,
associated with garnet, near While's Mills, Gaston county, North
Carolina.
Diaspore.—Possibly
the finest known diaspores are those which were found at the corundum
locality near Unionville, in Newlin township, Chester county,
Pennsylvania. The crystals were from one-half to 1-1/2 inches in
length, and one quarter of an inch in thickness. The color varies from
a white to a fawn color inclining to a topaz, while others are at times
of slightly brownish tint. They closely resemble topaz in appearance,
and would afford gems as fine as any yet obtained. The finest of these
are in the cabinets of Dr. Isaac Lea and Colonel Joseph Wilcox, of
Philadelphia.
The emery mines of Chester, Massachusetts, have produced a few small crystals which might be cut into minute cabinet gems.
Mr.
John C. Trautwine, of Philadelphia, obtained some minute acicular
crystals in a cavity of massive corundum at the Culsagee mine, North
Carolina. General T. C. Clingman also observed the mineral associated
with blue corundum near Marshall, Madison county, North Carolina.
Beryl and emerald.—Prof. Parker Cleveland (b) mentions having seen
