IDAHO.
A
few garnets were sent to Maynard Bixby, of Salt Lake City, Utah, for
cutting. The garnets are reported to have come from a locality near
Orofino, Nez Perce County, Idaho. The general apÂpearance of the stones
suggests spessartite. The garnet pebbles show rounded crystal faces, an
unusual feature of garnet pebbles.
MASSACHUSETTS.
Some
deep, rich red garnets, about 50 in all, were picked up on the surface
of a micaceous schist rock in the Connecticut Valley in northern
Massachusetts, not far from the Vermont line. Mr. S. W. Denton, of
Boston, Mass., has cut from them perfect gems of 2 carats and larger
ones slightly flawed. Apparently no development work has been
undertaken.
OTHER STATES.
In
addition to the States listed, an appreciable production of garnet was
reported from Arizona, Montana, Colorado, California, Arkansas, ana
North Carolina. Several States not named have
f
probably had a small production of gem garnets whose report has ailed to reach the Geological Survey.
OPAL.
Mr.
J. B. Kiernan, of Beatty, Nev., reports that massive opal is found in a
deposit of diatomaceous earth, the variously colored opals being called
by him vermilion (opal impregnated with cinnabar), amber (resinous
opal), milky, and radio (smoky color due to organic matter). Some of
this opal has been cut and sold.
QUARTZ.
PRODUCTION OF VARIETIES.
A
large number of gem stones are varieties of quartz. The crystalÂlized
quartz includes amethyst, asteriated or star quartz, aventurine, cat's
eye, citrine, dumortioritc in quartz, goethite in quartz, gold-quartz,
hornblende, actinolite and asbestos in quartz, milky quartz, rock
crystal, rose quartz, rutile in quartz, sapphirine-quartz, smoky
quartz, and Thetis hairstone.
Under
the heading agate are included the compact, dense, granular varieties
of quartz that are more or less translucent. The varieties include
agate, agatized wood, carnelian, chalcedony, chrysoprase, moss agate,
onyx, plasma, prase, rainbow agate, sardonyx, and violite.
Under
the heading jasper are included the opaque, dense forms of silica,
usually strongly colored by compounds of iron. Their value is largely
dependent on the intensity, purity, and arrangement of the colors. The
varieties are agate jasper, bloodstone, common jasper, jasperized wood,
flint, novaculite, and touchstone.
