Precious Gem stones production in 1914 Page 66



	GEMS AND PRECIOUS STONES.	315

	of some of these. Among the specimens submitted by Mr. Davidson were two blue beryl gems of fine, light sky-blue color, weighing from 1-1/2 to 2 carats each. These gems contained a few flaws but have the color characteristic of fine gems. A third gem was pale blue with a slight greenish cast, weighed over 1 carat, and was almost flawless; and a fourth was of about the same weight, of yellowish-green color, and slightly flawed. There was one pale translucent rose quartz gem cut in elongated "en cabochon" shape. This gem shows an asterism which would probably be more pronounced in a hemispherical stone cut en cabochon. The fine color of the blue beryl gems and the fact that portions of them are perfectly clear make this locality of interest as a possible source of valuable gem material. MAINE. During operations for feldspar in the Mount Apatite region, near Auburn, Me., in 1914, a few finds were made of minerals of value as gems or of interest as specimens. Among these was a beryl crystal 12 inches in diameter and 22 inches long, with a light pink color. Much of this crystal was opaque or only translucent, but in some parts it was clear enough to cut into gems. This beryl was found in a quarry of the Maine Feldspar Co., and a specimen of the cut gem was kindly given to the Survey by Mr. N. G. Smith, of the Maine Feldspar Co., and Mr. M. L. Keith, lapidary, of Auburn, Me. The cut gem weighs 1.2 carats, is perfectly clear and flawless, shows a very light pink color, and has great brilliance. In some lights the S pink is not especially noticeable and the beryl resembles the caesium beryl found at many localities in Maine. Larger gems showing deeper color were also cut from the crystal. MASSACHUSETTS. In the region of variegated tourmalines around Goshen and Chesterfield, Hampshire County, Mass., many beryls are found. A few occurrences are mentioned in this report under tourmaline. Some of these occurrences have been known for a century, and certain beryls from the Goshen region have been called goshenite. Dana' calls the white or colorless variety goshenite, but Kunz ² describes it as blue beryl. Both varieties occur, and specimens suitable for gems have been obtained. A locality 1-1/2 miles N. 80° W. of Goshen, about 300 yards north of the north end of Lily Pond, was visited. This place is overgrown with heavy brush and showed but little evidence of having been worked. As it was found without the services of a guide, the writer does not know whether it is the usual locality mentioned as near the Lily Pond. At the locality examined a ledge of mixed granite and pegmatite 30 feet thick standing several feet above the surface outcrops up a hill slope in a due west direction for a distance of about 100 yards. The country rock is fine garnet schist cut by medium-grained gray granite. The pegmatite incloses irregular streaks or veins of white quartz which pinch and swell along their course. A prominent one of these quartz veins is inclosed in the pegmatite at the east end of the outcrop. ¹ Dana, E. S., System of mineralogy, 6th ed., p. 407, 1909. ³ Kunz, G. F., Gems and precious stones of North America, p. 95,1S90.