Precious Gem stones production in 1907 Page 47



	PRECIOUS STONES.	813

	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.