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GEMS AND PRECIOUS STONES. 1043
region.
The mineral is so massive and plentiful that it can be used for
mantelpieces, table tops, and similar ornamental work. It should meet
with the approval of the Chinese, by whom other forms of greenstone are
held in peculiar veneration. Dr. P. Marshall, of Otago University,
describes the bowenite from the new locality as unequaled in quality,
and perfectly adapted for the making of ornaments, knife handles, and
other purposes for which such a beautiful stone may be required. The
extreme and peculiar beauty of the stone would be likely to make the
demand increase enormously. Bowenite differs from nephrite (the
ordinary greenstone) in its beautiful transparency, less crude color,
and in hardness.
Old
Maori legends tell of the loss of the original "tangiwai" deposit in a
landslide on the slopes of Anita Bay. The location of the new discovery
corresponds closely with that given in the native legends. Samples
brought to Auckland have been pronounced the real "queen of
greenstones" by Maoris and valued above all other varieties.
Some
of the bowenite is translucent in moderately thick pieces and permeated
with irregular cloudy waves; the ordinary greenstone is translucent
only in very thin slices. The ordinary material has sold for 12 cents a
pound, but will doubtless be much less in demand and cheaper in the
future.
CALIFORNITE (VESUVIANITE). CALIFORNIA.
Occurrences
of californite have been mentioned in several of these reports during
the years 1901 to 1910, and detailed descriptions of some of the
localities have beenpublished as follows: In the report for 1906 notes
on a deposit near Exeter, in Tulare County, were given by Frank L.
Hess, of the United States Geological Survey; in the report for 1909
the prospect of C. N. White about 6 miles east of Lindsay was noted;
and in the report for 1910 the original californite locality 10 miles
west of north of Happy Camp, Siskiyou County, was described. Other
localities are known and two of them are described below. One of these
is in Butte County and has been prospected as a side issue by the North
California Mining Co.; the other is in Fresno County, and at present
the claims are owned by the Prethero Bros, and Nat Parker, of Visalia.
The
prospect of the North California Mining Co., which has been examined by
the writer, is on the west side of North Fork of Feather River about
half a mile northeast of Big Bar station on the Western Pacific
Railway. It is in a steep rocky hillside, almost a cliff, over 200 feet
above the railroad tracks, or about 1,600 feet above sea level. The
hillside has only small trees and bushes growing among the rocks and
ledges. The mountains around are covered with a heavy growth of timber,
among which are spruce, red fir, oak, and sugar pine. The californite
was discovered about four years ago when a wagon road was graded along
the hillside to facilitate the construction of the railway. Some of
the mineral had been previously cut with good effects. Specimens seen
in 1909 was green to white and some were nearly colorless and
transparent, resembling so-called chalcedony moonstone. Some pretty
apple-green and lily-green gems, showing an even quality of color and
transparency, have been cut.
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