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PRECIOUS STONES.
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Cyanite.—Mr.
Daniel A. Bowman communicates that the cyanite mentioned in the last
report was found near the summit of Yellow mountain, alongside the road
to MarioD, about 4 miles southeast of Bakersville, North Carolina, at
an altitude of 5,500 feet. Some of this is transparent, from one-eighth
to one-half inch across and several inches long. So rich is its color
that it was sold for sapphire. Its low hardness unfits it to some
extent for use as the gem for which it is to be worn. It is a handsome
mineralogical gem, however.
Crocidolite.—In the American Journal of Science, III
Series, volume 34, page 108, Prof. A. A. Chester published analyses
of'the crocidolite from Beacon Hill Pole, Cumberland, Rhode Island, an
interesting occurrence of this mineral, though not in gem form.
Labradorite.—The
well-known Labradorite rock in Lewis county, New York, is so plentiful
that the reflection of the bowlders has given the river that runs
through the locality the name of Opalescent river. This is being
extensively cut as an ornamental stone.
Mexican onyx.—The
handsomest and lowest.priced of our ornamental stones, and one which
has been introduced most extensively, is the so-called Mexican onyx or
Tecalli, as it was first called, from the town of that name in the
state of Pueblo, Mexico, where it is found. The deep colors are richer
than those of any marble known, and its wavy stalag-mitic structure and
the high polish which it can take have made it popular throughout the
whole civilized world. With a metal mounting the effect is greatly
enhanced. It occurs in almost unlimited quantities, and fully $500,000
worth has been used in the United States for table tops, mantels vases,
etc.
FOREIGN S0URCES.
In
this, the fifth of the annual reports on precious stones in the United
States, which have done much toward awakening a wide spread interest in
American gems, it was thought well to give a brief sketch of some of
the most important changes which are taking place in precious stones
at the principal sources, which are usually foreign.
Diamonds.—The
author of the "Arabian Nights " undoubtedly thought that he was
imagining the wildest and most improbable things when he described the
collection of such treasures in the Valley of Diamonds by " Sinbad the
Sailor." Yet when compared with the African mines this profusion of
wealth has paled into utter insignificance. A glimpse at these new
valleys of diamonds will be interesting. The primitive method of
washing was carried on for centuries by thousands of slaves, who, like
those who built the pyramids, were driven by a master mercilessly
goading them on, whip in hand. To-day we have the most ingenious and
powerful machinery, which allows fewer diamonds to escape than would the keenest and most disciplined army of washers.
At
the Kimberley diamond mines in South Africa wonderful progress has been
made in the last decade. About 1877 the work of consolidat-
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