PETRIFIED WOOD.
Petrified
wood occurs at a number of localities in the Western States. Mr. W. C.
Hart reports the sale of some 5,000 pounds during 1907, obtained from
El Paso County, Colo. Mr. Samuel Scott reports that agatized and
jasperized wood is plentiful in the Dakota sandstone formation around
the Black Hills. This material is not used at the present time. The
beautiful petrified wood from the petrified forests of Arizona, near
Adamana, is carried off in some quantity each year as specimens and
souvenirs by tourists. The specimens taken are generally limited to a
few pounds in weight, and some of them are later polished for
ornamental purposes.
PHENACITE.
A
small quantity of phenacite was reported from Bald Face Mountain,
Stoneham, Maine, by Messrs. Bickford Brothers^ of Norway, Maine, and by
Mr. Leon Allen. Part of this was gem material and part specimen
material consisting of crystals attached to quartz crystals.
QUARTZ.
The
quartz produced, including rock crystal, smoky, citrine, ruti-lated,
and tourmalinated quartz, came from California, Colorado, North
Carolina, Maine, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. In the first four
States mentioned the quartz came from mines or regions around mines
noted for their beautiful gems, as tourmaline, beryl, emerald, kunzite,
and hiddenite. A small quantity of rutilated quartz was obtained from
the mines near Hiddenite, Alexander County, N. C, and in the adjoining
county of Iredell. Of much interest is the polishing of a large
crystal sphere by the Catalina Novelty Company, of Avalon, Cal. This
sphere is reported to be six inches in diameter and quite perfect.0 According to a press report,6
it is 19 inches in circumference and weighs 11 pounds. The crystal from
which it was cut was found in Riverside County, Cal. The value of the
sphere is placed at $3,300.
Mr.
Louis J. Deacon mentions the occurrence of clear, pellucid quartz
pebbles, called "Cape May diamonds," on the Delaware Bay beach at Cape
May, N. J. These pebbles are gathered by visitors, who have them cut as
souvenirs.
Consul-General
G. E. Anderson, of Rio de Janeiro, states that the foreign demand for
large-size quartz crystals for optical work is quite variable.0
The value of the exports of such crystals from Brazil amounted to
$16,103 in 1904, $18,132 in 1905, and $10,553 in 1906. The fluctuations
are due in part to variations in supply. The best crystals come from a
belt extending from the central portion of Sao Paulo through Goyay and
the western portion of the State of Minas. The price given as the
average for the exports during 1906 was 42 cents per kilogram.
ROSE QUARTZ.
There
was a large production of rose quartz, amounting to 51,300 pounds, from
South Dakota and Colorado. The largest production was from South
Dakota, from the Red Rose vein, 7 miles southeast of Custer. The whole
output was not sold during 1907, however.
» Personal Jetter. b Jewelers' Ore. Weekly, December 25,1907. cDailyCons.Kepts.,August22,1907.
