eryl
prospect. Two small pits were dug on a vein of glassy quartz, 2 to 5
inches thick, cutting gneiss composed of mica, garnet, and cyanite
schist. Beautiful smoky quartz crystals were found in pockets
along this vein. The crystals range in size up to 2 inches in thickness
and over 3 inches in length. They are transparent and have a fine
smoky-brownish color. A few crystals were obtained in sufficiently
perfect condition to have value as specimens, but many were chipped by
rough handling.
The
other prospect is on the place of Moses Barnes, 2 miles N. 20° W. of
All Healing Springs. The prospect is in the side of a hollow or ravine
and has been opened by a small irregular-shaped shaft 18 feet deep. The
country rock is a mica schist inclosing granite. The crystals follow a
glassy quartz vein 3 to 6 inches thick, striking north and south, with
a vertical dip. The crystals range from small, nearly perfect ones to
stones nearly 6 inches thick. Aggregates of muscovite mica crystals are
inclosed in or partly penetrate some of the quartz crystals. The quartz
varies from clear or slightly smoky to fairly dark smoky in color. Some
of the crystals would yield good cabinet specimens if carefully removed
from the vein.
SAPPHIRE.
MONTANA.
There
was considerable activity in sapphire mining in Montana during 1912.
The mines producing blue gem sapphire in Fergus County reported large
productions. The operators were the Yogo-American Sapphire Co. and the
New Mine Sapphire Syndicate. These companies are operating on the same
sapphire-bearing vein or dike at a distance of about 2 miles from each
other.
In
Granite County the placer mines of the American Gem Mining Syndicate on
West Fork of Rock Creek were extensively operated during the working
season. Other deposits in Granite County were prospected and worked
with good results on a smaller scale by Richard Stingle, of
Philipsburg, Mont. These claims lie northeast of those of the American
Gem Mining Syndicate across a mountain divide on tributaries of the
main prong of Rock Creek. Mr. Stingle claims a large yield of
varicolored gem sapphire in proportion to the total quantity mined. The
stones range from colorless to greenish-blue, light-green, yellow,
orange, pink, and nearly ruby-red. Rough stones weighing 7 to 8 carats
are found.
SPODUMENE.
KUNZITE AND HIDDENITE.
The
production of spodumene gems in 1912 was confined to the kunzite
variety in southern California. None of the emerald-green variety,
hiddenite, was found in North Carolina. Mr. Salmons, of the Pala Chief
Gem Mining Co., mentions two specimens of kunzite weighing 474 ounces
and 45 ounces, respectively, found at the Pala Chief mine in San Diego
County. These have been placed in the A. F. Holden collection in
Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. L. P. Gratacap, of
