in 1885, but the tests are not yet completed, so that its genuineness cannot be asserted. He says: " The material which was brought to Denver was hard, highly electric, and of a good clear yellow color. Its fusion point was a little low, and the odor of a burning fragment slightly resembled that of burning india rubber, In places the substance occurs 2 inches thick. The exact place of its occurrence has not yet been ascertained." A few of the choice minerals and gems in the collection of Mr. Clarence S. Bement were well described by Prof. Gerhard vom Bath in the Jewelers1 Circular, Vol. XVI., No. 12, January, 1886.
Mr. William H. Andrews, of Gouverneur, Saint Lawrence county, New York, has a remarkable collection of 2,200 specimens of polished marbles, serpentines, jaspers, agates, and other ornamental stones, principally from Saint Lawrence, Jefferson, and adjacent counties. A variety of other minerals are also to be found in this collection, which, though the polishing is mainly the work of Mr. Andrews himself, is one of the most complete series of the kind in the United States.
Popular articles have appeared during the year on North Carolina gem stones by Mr. C. D. Smith; on diamonds by William Wareing Habersham (both of these appeared in Dixie, published in Atlanta, Georgia, January, 1886), and an article on how hiddenite was formed, by Mr. W. E. Hidden, in Dixie, December, 1885.
The National Museum collection of gems, formed by Prof. F. W. Clarke, is now one of the most complete for species in the CTnited States, and as many of the gems are of more than average merit and all can have access to them, this is one of the best opportunities afforded the student in this country.. The Popular Science Monthly for April, 1886, contains a description of this collection, which, with additions to date, will also appear in the bulletin of the National Museum.
An immense number of small collections of minerals have been sold during the past year, usually consisting of specimens not over ^ to 2 inches square of a series of some ten to fifty of the principal minerals, or the minerals of a section, or of polished and ornamental stones; sets of fifty; selling for from $lto $5, are arrayed in cases or pasted to boards. The name which is given to them is generally copyrighted. Thousands of these collections are sold annually.
PRODUCTION OF PRECIOIS STONES IN THE EXITED STATES
While it is impossible to obtain exact returns of the values of the precious stones found in the United States, it is believed that the estimates given in the following table I'epresent, roughly, the total values and the proportionate values of the several mineralogical species. Gold quartz, the value of which should be more properly perhaps included under the head of gold mining, is added at the close of the list.
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