white,
pale-greenish, bluish, and yellow color, tourmaline, and beryl of
white, green, and pink color, associated with clevelandite, orthoclase,
muscovite, biotite, and fine quartz crystals. Much very fine specimen
material is obtained. The mines are worked by open cuts after the vein
has been stripped of overlying rock.
Hercules and Lookout mines.—The
Hercules mine is part way up the hillside to the northeast of the
Little Three, and the Lookout mine is still farther northeast,
extending to the top. The Hercules mine has been worked by a cut and a
tunnel 90 feet long. The Lookout mine has been opened at two points by
open cuts, one on top of the hill, the other 200 or 300 feet below the
top, where the ledge has been stripped through a height of about 75
feet. The Hercules mine contains hyacinth garnet, beryl, tourmaline,
and smoky quartz crystals. The Lookout mine has yielded chiefly
beautiful hyacinth garnet, though a pocket of green tourmaline has been
opened at the top of the hill.
Daggett mine.—The
Daggett mine is about half a mile northwest of the Little Three mine.
It has been worked as extensively as any of the mines in this district,
with several tunnels and a small amount of stoping. The pegmatite is
nearly in the form of a blanket ledge on the hillside with a northerly
strike and a dip of 35° W. The
gems
found were pink beryl, green tourmaline, some very dark, and hyacinth
garnet, associated with lepidolite, muscovite, biotite, albite,
orthoclase, and quartz.
Other mines.—A
few hundred yards to the north of west of the Little Three mine are the
Reliance and the Mars claims. There are two ledges on the Reliance
claim. These ledges were being prospected during 1907 with the result
that a little hyacinth garnet, some green tourmaline, and frozen beryl
were found. The pegmatite in one of these ledges exhibits a marked
banded structure, due to the occurrence of certain minerals,
especially tourmaline, in parallel layers. A small amount of hyacinth
garnet was found during prospecting work on the Mars claim during 1907.
CUTTING AND SALE OF GEMS.
Several
of the companies mining precious stones in southern California have
their own lapidary establishments and cut for the local trade and for
the markets at a distance. These lapidary establishments are located
in Los Angeles, San Diego, and other towns. Some of the cutting shops
employ but one or two men, while others keep from five to ten men busy.
In San Diego there were at least six of these establishments in
operation during 1907, employing from one to six men. Some of these
lapidaries work with improved mechanical methods, cutting faceted
stones of perfect symmetry and great beauty. Carborundum is principally used for cutting and oxide of tin or chromium for polishing the gems.
The
gems bring good prices in the cities of California. Tourmaline of
finest quality and facet cut are sold for from $6 to $15, and even as
high as $20 per carat, according to size. Flawed tourmaline suitable
for cabochon cuts is sold for 50 cents to $1 per carat, according to
quality and size. Kunzite is sold for slightly less than tourmaline,
though practically the same price is sometimes paid for exceptionally
fine, rich, lilac-colored gems. Hyacinth garnet is ordinarily sold for
from $3 to $10 per carat, though in some cases higher
