BERYL.
CALIFORNIA.
Additional
samples of blue beryl from a prospect in the Death Valley region of
California have been sent to the Survey by Mr. Joseph Ward, of Lone
Pine, Cal. The light to dark-blue beryls are practically opaque, the
transparent variety having apparently not yet been found.
More
or less transparent pink beryls continue to be found in the gem mines
at Pala, San Diego County, Cal. Mr. M. M. Sickler has submitted several
such crystals that were found during 1915. Similar crystals were also
obtained from the Pala Chief mine and the Tourmaline King mine.
CONNECTICUT.
Prof.
W. N. Rice, of Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., reports the
discovery of a beautiful crystal of golden beryl found at East Hampton
(formerly Chatham). The crystal is now in the Museum of Wesleyan
University.
GEORGIA.
Mr.
A. J. Scoggins, of Deweyrose, Ga., reports an abundance of beryl in
various places in Elbert County, Ga. About two dozen beryl crystals of
an aquamarine blue color have been obtained from a pit 5 feet deep near
Antioch Hill mine. Several bushels of fractured deep-blue beryls were
picked up on the surface near the Yellow Hill mine, on the north side
of Little Broad River about 3 miles from Oglesby on the Seaboard Air
Line Railway. Beryl of better quality, suitable for gems, was obtained
from several shallow pits in the neighborhood.
MAINE.
Good
beryl of gem quality was obtained by Mr. F. H. Peterson, of Fryeburg,
Me. Three crystals—8 by 14, 5-1/2 by 14, and 6 by 22 inches—
considerably flawed, yielded some gem material. A smaller crystal,
several inches long and f-inch thick yielded some good aquamarine. The
market for aquamarine is said to have been good.
MASSACHUSETTS.
The
Reynolds mine at Beryl Hill, near Royalston, Mass., was again worked by
Mr. F. H. Reynolds, of Boston, who obtained a large quantity of
aquamarine beryl, of good color and clearness. Some of the material of
fine quality yielded cut stones nearly 16 carats in weight. Many fine
cabinet specimens were also obtained. The occurrence was described in
detail in the report on precious stones in Mineral Resources for 1913.
A lot of matrix specimens kindly loaned by Mr. Reynolds showed most of
the beryl crystals embedded in a light smoky-gray granular quartz.
Other minerals noted were a dark reddish-brown garnet, white feldspar,
and mica plates. One small beryl crystal, not of gem quality, was
embedded in feldspar. Among the cut stones also submitted by Mr.
Reynolds were some very fine ones, of marked brilliancy and beauty of
color. A large
