PRODUCTION.
There
were many changes in the production of gem minerals reported to the
Survey during 1911. The output of some minerals formerly large declined
greatly and other minerals formerly of less importance were handled in
increased quantities. The production of sapphire in Montana was much
greater than during the three preceding years, owing to renewed
activity in mining both blue gems in the matrix and varicolored stones
from placer deposits. The output of tourmaline and kunzite in southern
California, formerly large, nearly ceased. The production of opaque
blue-green gems, such as turquoise, variscite, and some copper-ore
gems, declined greatly. Increased interest in such gems as agate, moss
agate, jasper, and bloodstone resulted in a greater production. The new
emerald locality of North Carolina, discovered in 1909, has yielded
gems which have been conservatively estimated as worth 110,500 during
the last three years.
The
total production of gems and precious stones reported to the Survey
during 1911 shows an increase over 1910, but is considerably lower than
in the years 1907 to 1909. The value of the production in 1911, as
reported to the Survey and estimated in part, was $343,692, as compared
with $295,797 in 1910. In preparing these statistics it is necessary to
estimate values for the output of some minerals, and in doing this the
values chosen are an attempt to represent the first sales value of the
rough mineral. In some cases the gems are reported to the Survey as cut
stones with the proper value for such material, and in other cases it
is not evident in what condition of elaboration the stones are
reported. The statistics more nearly represent the first values that
the rough material brings or might be expected to bring. This same gem
material may bring four or five times as much after cutting and placing
on the market.
Production of precious stones in the United States in 1908, 1900, 1910, and 1911.
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