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PRECIOUS STONES. 699
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STAUROLITE.
During
1893 a large quantity of small crystals of twinned cruciform crystals
of staurolite have been found in Patrick county near the Henry county
line, Virginia, and they have been drilled at one end, a small eye
inserted, and sold as lucky charms. About $500 worth were sold during
the past year.
JADEITE.
There
are at present two groups of jadeite quarries in Upper Burmah, which
the French vice-consul says are situated respectively at the summit of
the mountain near the village of Jawmaw and in the valley of the river
Uru, the latter commencing near Sanka and extending for some miles
below the mountain. The geographical position of Jawmaw is in latitude
25 degrees and 44 minutes north latitude, and 96 degrees and 14 minutes
east longitude, while Sanka is about 6 miles from the east coast.
According to all accounts, the river mines are the oldest, those on the
mountaintop having only been discovered some fifteen years ago. In the
valley of the Uru the jade is found in blocks in the alluvial sediment
of the river. Where it is imbedded or is found in heavy masses, a
primitive method for obtaining the material is adopted, namely, heating
by fire on the surface, the reduction of the temperature during the
night sufficing to crack the rock, and then by pure force the blocks
are broken into transportable pieces. The mines are claimed by a
native, who collects a royalty on all the jade produced at a variable
revenue. The jadeite, Feitsui or imperial jade, harder than jade
(nephjite) but not so tough, is a striking example of the favor that
certain persons bestow upon a particular article, whereas others look
upon the same article with indifference, and would not give centimes
for that which the others have paid gold. The Burmese, but principally
the Chinese, appreciate a fine piece of jadeite as much as—if not more
than—gold. For example, a piece of jadeite, only sufficient for a
bracelet, will fetch 400 to 500 rupees, whereas in Europe it would not
fetch a small part of that amount. While China and Burmah are the only
markets for the sale of jadeite, it should not be forgotten that the
population of these two countries is at least 450,000,000, ready to buy
all available jade. However this may be, and whatever the price of
jadeite as an article of commerce, the fact is certain that it exists
in inexhaustible quantities. If methodical processes of extraction were
put in operation, if dynamite replaced the savage methods now employed,
if one head in place of a hundred directed the work, the production of
jadeite could be made enormous. But will a European company
methodically work the deposits, in place of the Kachin savages who
exploit them now !" The vice-consul replies: "It is improbable, because
the difficulties of the undertaking would be too great."
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