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PRECIOUS STONES.
839
increase
in quantity and small increase in value was due to the recovery of
large quantities of lower grade stones along with the few gems of high
value.
Burma.—A
small quantity of sapphire is obtained from the ruby mines each year,
and during 1907 ° it amounted, along with spinel, to £1,686 in value.
SATELITE, SERPENTINE CAT'S-EYE.
CALIFORNIA.
The
variety of serpentine mentioned in this report for 1907 as cat's-eye
has been named "satelite" by the Southwest Turquoise Company, of Los
Angeles, Cal. This company obtains the mineral from Tulare County where
it is found in serpentine associated with asbestos.. It resembles
chrysotile asbestos in some particulars but is harder and has a rather
coarse splintery cleavage in place of the fine fibrous cleavage of
asbestos. The color is opaque greenish gray along the fibers and dark
green across them. The cat's-eye effect is perfect when the gem is cut
cabochon. Satelite is being introduced in the gem markets and has been
favorably received in the western cities.
SMITHSONITE, "BONAMITE."
NEW MEXICO.
The
apple-green smithsonite, which so much resembles chrysoprase in color,
from Kelly, N. Mex., has been called "bonamite" by Good-friend Brothers
of New York. This firm has cut and sold a quantity of this material.
This smithsonite has been found in large quantities in the mine of the
Tri-Bullion Smelting and Development Company, and occurs as a thick
crystalline coating or incrustation over the walls of cavities. It
assumes mammillary and globular forms with drusy surfaces. The gem is
as beautiful as chrysoprase, though greatly inferior in hardness.
SPHENE.
NEW YORK.
Dr.
E. S. Ward, of Rochester, N. Y., reports a quantity of sphene sold for
gem purposes during 1908. This came principally from Switzerland,
though a small quantity of old stock from the Tilly Foster mine, New
York, was also used. This sphene yields very brilliant gems with a
strong play of colors or fire.
THULITE.
NORTH CAROLINA.
Thulite
or rose-colored zoisite occurs in the mica mines in North Carolina
associated with feldspar, in which it forms patches and groups of
crystals, sometimes radiated. Thulite is found at the Flat Rock mine
and furnishes attractive gems when cut cabochon with the inclosing
feldspar.
»Rec. Geol. Survey India, vol. 37, pt. 1,1908.
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