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PRECIOUS STONES.
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1231
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MONTANA.
The
operations of the New Mines Sapphire Syndicate on the sapphire deposit
in Yogo Gulch, Montana, have been retarded by an injunction served
against the company forbidding the emptying of tailings into the Judith
River. The waste from the mill was formerly turned into the river above
the intake to the irrigating ditches of the ranches around Utica. Some
of the debris was washed out and deposited on the ranches, resulting,
it is said, in considerage damage.
The
problem of disposing of the waste is being taken up by Mr. Hamilton
Walker, a member of the syndicate, who previously managed the mine for
the company. Reports state that the mine was worked during the winter
with a large force of men, removing vein matter, preparatory to washing
in the spring, after the question of the disposition of the tailings is
settled.
The
latest progress of the American Sapphire Company, operating on another
portion of the same vein as the New Mines Sapphire Syndicate, has not
been reported to the Survey. It is said there is a mill in operation
producing sapphires, though with what success is not known. As late as
the first half of 1907 the company seems to have been selling stock,
probably to secure capital for improving its plant.
Mr. W. H. Emmons, of the United States Geological Survey, furnishes the following note:
The
American Gem Syndicate continued to work its sapphire placers on Rock
Creek, about 20 miles southwest of Philipsburg, Mont. A considerable
quantity of sapphires was produced. This company has a factory in
Switzerland, where the stones are cut to be used as watch jewels and
for other bearings.
INDIA.
Kashmir.—The
Kashmir sapphire mines, situated 14,000 feet above sea level, are being
reopened after an idleness of sixteen years. The Kashmir Mineral
Company (Limited) operated in the district in 1906 from the middle of
July to the middle of October, when snows necessitated cessation of
work. The plan was to cause a landslide, which it was hoped would
expose the deposits. The same scheme was tried in 1887 without much
success. The gems occur in hard rock at these mines, and the quality is
good, though not the finest. Many of the stones, though beautiful in
davlight, are nearly black under artificial light.
AUSTRALIAN
NEW SOUTH WALES AND QUEENSLAND.
Sapphires are found in all the Australian States, though chiefly in Queensland and New South Wales. In the latter State the}7 are associated with alluvial deposits containing gold or tin. Most of the stones have a greenish-blue or bottle-green color, while many—abundant in some localities-
that are pure blue by transmitted light are nearly black by reflected
light. Stones of indifferent quality are abundant in the Inverell
tin-mining district, in the northern part of the State.
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