CALIFORNITE.
Californite
is a compact variety of vesuvianite with color and texture so like jade
that it was at first mistaken for that mineral. It is found in Siskiyou
County, Cal., on the south fork of Indian Creek, 12 miles from Happy
Camp, and has been described by Dr. George F. Kunz.a Two
other localities are known where californite lias been found in Tulare
County, Cal. One of these was described in this report for 1906. During
1907 there was a considerable production or californite by the
Himalaya Mining Company from its mine in Siskiyou County.
CAT'S-EYE OR TIGER-EYE.
CALIFORNIA.
New variety.—A
specimen was received at the Survey from Mrs. Gertrude S. McMullen, of
the Southwest Turquoise Company of Los Angeles, Cal., which seems to be
a new species of cat's-eye or'tiger-eye. The mineral is a compact
variety of serpentine, sufhciently fibrous to have a silky luster,
though not readily separated into fibers like asbestos. The hardness is
about 4.5. The color is opaque grav with the grain and dark green
across it. A cabochon stone cut with the grain gives an excellent play
of light across the rounded surface as the stone is rocked. The bar of
light reflected from the middle of the stone is greenish gray, while
the color on the sides at the ends of the fibers is dark green. The
beauty of the gem is somewhat marred in some specimens at least by
frequent irregularly shaped bars and tubes of yellowish mineral,
apparently also serpentine, running for some distance through the
massive material and parallel to its fibers. If the mineral is found
without these yellow markings, as it doubtless will be, very
attractive stones for scarf pins, pendants, etc., could be cut from it.
This mineral is found in Tulare County, associated with asbestos and
other serpentine. It might appropriately be called California cat's-eye
or tiger-eye, if no other name has been given to it.
CHRYSOPRASE AND BLUE CHRYSOPRASE.
CALIFORNIA.
There
was a large production of chrysoprase from the mine of the Himalaya
Mining Company, in Tulare County, Cal. Some of this material is of
beautiful color and is suitable for high-grade jewelry. It is used also
for handsome ornamental effects, as in mosaics, etc.
ARIZONA.
Specimens
of blue and bluish-green copper-stained chalcedony were received from
Mr. H. P. Wightman, of Globe, Ariz. The mineral occurs in small
stringers in the Keystone copper mine in that district. The copper ore
at this mine is said to be principally chrysocolla or silicate ore. The
chalcedony varies in color from bright to pale blue, bluish green, and
nearly apple green, and is more or less translucent. In some pieces the
color occurs in curved layers and varies in intensity,
"Jewelers' materials and ornamental stones of California: California State Min. Bur. Bull. 37, 1905, pp. 93-95.
