dump.
Some graphic intergrowths of quartz and feldspar occur. In some of the
blocks seen on the dump pegmatite appears to grade into coarse granite.
Black tourmaline and muscovite and biotite mica were also present. Good
golden and yellow beryl are reported to have been found in this
prospect.
Golden and yellow beryl are also reported to have been found in a prospect on John Webster's place, about 1-1/4 miles
N. 50° E. of All Healing Springs. This prospect has been opened by
three small pits in a N. 15° W. direction, on a hillside. The deposit
could be worked by a drift on the vein from the north, probably more
than 30 feet lower than the present pits. The country rock is mica
schist injected with granite. The beryls were found in pegmatite
associated with a streak of glassy smoky quartz. The feldspar of the
pegmatite occurs in masses which yield cleavage faces several inches
across. Muscovite, biotite, black tourmabne, and beryl are accessory
minerals of the pegmatite.
A
distorted crystal of beryl measuring about 20 by 35 by 42 milli meters
was found by Felix Webster in a field on George Teague' land a few
hundred yards north of John Webster's prospect. This crystal has a
pale-yellow color and is rather badly fractured, contains clear
portions sufficiently large to cut a few gems of less than one-half
carat weight.
Specimens
of beryl crystals from Cleveland County, N. C, with notes on their
occurrence, were shown to the writer by Mr. George L. English, of
Shelby, N. C. The prospect is on the Whisnant place, on the
west side of Broad River, near Hollybush. It was opened by Messrs.
Whisnant and Morrison, of Hollybush, by a shaft about 30 feet deep. The
vein is pegmatite with considerable black tourmaline scattered through
it. Many pounds of rough beryl crystals were found, and among them were
a few crystals of gem quality. The latter were light-yellow and
greenish with portions sufficiently free from flaws to cut. A gem of
nearly two carats weight cut from a pale-yellow crystal was very
brilliant and pretty.
CHRYSOPRASE. ARIZONA.
The
chrysoprase deposits of Riggs & Walker, about 20 miles west of
Mineral Park, Mohave County, Ariz., briefly described in these reports
for 1908 and 1911, have been taken over by John L. Riggs, of Chloride,
Ariz. The peculiarity of the occurrence of this chrysoprase in
rhyolite porphyry and not in serpentine, as is usual, has been
mentioned. Mr. Riggs has kindly furnished additional specimens for
examination. A feature of some of these specimens is a banding of
fairly dark and'light-green chrysoprase with layers of gray and
pale-purplish cherty chalcedony. This stone would make unique cameos in
which a variety of effects could be obtained. A large number of other
patterns and contrasts of color can be secured by cutting brecciated
jasper and flint matrix with a chalcedony and chrysoprase filling.
