found
through the coal regions, are trimmed and cut into ovals, squares, and
other shapes, and sold for mounting as scarf pins, lace pins, ear
rings, and ring stones, as well as other ornaments. Fine single
crystals are also sold for ornaments, principally at Mauch Chunk and
the summit of the Switchback road, and by the local jewelers at
Ashland, Shenandoah, and Mahoney City. The finest specimens used here
are from the Eaven Eun mine, 6 miles from Mahoney City.
Many
fine single crystals with a very high polish have been found at Black
Hawk and other localities in Colorado, which are often sold for
ornaments, just as they are found, at Denver, Colorado Springs, and
other places in the West. These are compact enough to cut into the
faceted gem, known in Europe as "marcasite," which has been almost
entirely superseded by bright steel jewelry.
Diopside.—Associated
with the garnets from Fort Defiance (Arizona), Gallup (New Mexico), and
other localities in that vicinity, small pieces of almost emerald-green
diopside are found—evidently a chromium diop-side similiar to that
found with the South African diamonds. As a rule they are too small to
afford gems of any value, but a few pieces have been found that are of
sufficient size for very small gems. This would be a very desirable
addition to the list of American gem localities, if the specimens were
found in any size or quantity.
At
the De Kalb (New York) locality, some very large crystals were found in
1884, several over 3 inches long and 1 inch thick, with clear spots of
gem material, promising to afford cut stones weighing 20 to 30 carats.
FELDSPAR GROUP.
The
greenish variety of orthoclase, called lennilite by Dr. Isaac Lea(a),
found at Lenni Mills, Delaware county, Pennsylvania; the pearly variety
called delawarite by Dr. Lea. and the bluish-green sub-transparent of
an aventurine character, the bright particles being hexagonal
hematite!?), called cassinite by Dr. Lea, found at Blue hill, 2 miles
north of Media, are all at times of fine enough color to make a common
gem or ornamental stone.
Large
bowlders of labradorite are often met with in the towns of Lewis,
Moriah, Mclntyre, Newcomb, and Westport, also in Green, Lewis, Orange,
Schoharie, Saint Lawrence, and Warren counties, New York. Within a few
miles of Amity, in Orange county, Mr. Silas C. Young-broke up a mass of
fine material for specimens, weighing over two tons, that showed the
chatoyant play of colors very well.
In
Pennsylvania it occurs at Mineral hill, Chester county, and opposite
New Hope, Bucks county; and also in the Wichita mountains, Arkansas.
Mention
is made by Genth and Kerr(b) of a curious white variety as occurring at
the Cullakenee mine, Clay county ; also, large crystals in
a "Proceedings Philadelphia Academy of Sciences," May, 1866. 6 " Minerals and Mineral Localities of North Carolina," page 48.
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