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Ch. 3: Precious Gem stones in 1888

Ch. 2: Platinum in 1888 Page of 17 Ch. 3: Precious Gem stones in 1888 Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
     
     
 
PRECIOUS STONES.
By George F. Kunz.
No systematic mining for precious stones was carried on during 1888, although two small crystals of emerald, valued at about $100, were found at the mines at Stony Point, Alexander county, North Carolina.
Diamonds.—Considerable excitement prevailed during the spring at Morris Station, 13 miles south of Atlanta, Georgia, where the diamond described on page 558 of Mineral Resources for 1887 was found; and much was said at the time as to the resemblance of this locality to that of other diamond-producing districts; but no further discoveries have been reported, although there was every reason to believe, from the state­ment of the local newspapers, that extensive working would be carried on. During the summer of 1888 a small elongated hexoctahedral crystal of diamond, weighing seven-sixteenths of a carat, was reported to have been found by Mr. C. O. Helm on the farm of Mr. Henry Burris, about 300 yards from the Cabin Fort creek, Russell county, near Adair county, Kentucky. While walking through an old field Mr. Helm observed a small, bright stone in the gravel. On investigation it proved to be a diamond, octahedral in form, with curved faces, lustrous, but slightly off color. The rock in the vicinity is said to be composed of granite dikes, slates and quartz, feldspar, magnetic iron ore, flint, garnets, etc., scattered through hills of clay.
Beryl, phenacite, and topaz.—During the summer of 1888 prospecting was carried on near the top of Mount Antero, Colorado, at an altitude of from 12,000 to 14,000 feet above the level of the sea, and several pockets of crystals of blue beryl and phenacite were found. The blue beryls resembled those from Mourne mountain, Ireland, except that they were very curiously etched and partly eaten out. From the crystals, perhaps a hundred in number, material was obtained which furnished cut gems weighing from 1 to 12 carats. They were of good blue color, although often containing the characteristic beryl stria-tions. The crystals and gems together brought about $600 or $700. The phenacites were found implanted on quartz and beryl, and crystals valued at more than $500 were obtained, although none of them were suitable for cutting. On January 12, 1888, near Little Robinet's store and Little River church, in the vicinity of Russell Gap road, Alexander county, North Carolina, a farmer, while plowing, found a crystal of dark, sea-green beryl, weighing 28 ounces, parts of which would furnish gems weighing from 1 to 20 carats each. This beryl resembles that variety 580
  
 
 
  
     
Ch. 2: Platinum in 1888 Page of 17 Ch. 3: Precious Gem stones in 1888
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US Geol. Surv. 1888. Gemstones, Metals.
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