RHODONITE. OREGON.
A
vein of rhodonite 4 feet wide is reported by Mr. D. B. Bubar, of
Roseburg, Oreg., to have been found near the caves on Caves Creek,
Josephine County. Preliminary work showed considerable material
available and slabs 6 by 8 inches could be obtained. The rhodonite is
said to be of good quality and to take a fine polish.
STATTROLITE.
MINNESOTA.
Mr.
T. C. Wing, of St. Cloud, Minn., has sent in samples of stauro-lite
from the banks of the Mississippi about 25 miles north of St. Cloud and
about 3 miles from Royalton. Many of the crystals are twinned so as to
form the usual crosses, but perfect ones are not common. The crystals,
as much as an inch in length, are found loose in the soil, in a blue
clay, and also in the schist matrix. Bowlders 3 feet thick contain
numbers of the crystals. The mineral is dark brown and unaltered, and
therefore too hard to be finished off smoothly for the jewelry trade
like the similar stones from Virginia.
VIRGINIA.
The
staurolites, better known as "fairy stones," are found in a field of
about 50 acres on top of Bull Mountain, Patrick County, and have a
ready sale. These "fairy" or "lucky" stones are twinned stauro-lite
crystals simulating the Roman, Maltese, and St. Andrew's crosses. They
are as much as an inch in length and are of a dark-brown color. The
original staurolite mineral has changed to a compact softer material,
so that the stones can readily be prepared for the jewelry trade. A
brisk trade in these popular stones is reported; they are mounted as
cuff links, scarfpins, brooches, charms, and in many other ways.
TIIOMSONITE.
An occurrence of thomsonite in an amygdaloidal rock in Cook County, Minn., about 7 miles from Grand Marais, has been wTorked
by Alfred Merritt, of Duluth, Minn. A number of stones of gem quality
are said to have been obtained, and Mr. Merritt intends soon to mine
and market the stones. The colors vary from a light yellow or brown to
a dark green, with many intermediate shades. Those stones which are cut
so as to show a central eye are in good demand, being used for settings
in scarfpins, cuff links, brooches, etc.
The
mineral is also reported from Lane County, Oreg., in a road cut 100
yards west of Deerhorn; also in the gravel of Willamette and McKenzie
Rivers, near Eugene.
TOPAZ.
Mr.
H. C. Gordon, of San Diego, Gal., reports that about 30 crystals of
bluish topaz, some of them containing gem material, were taken from the
Mountain Lily mine, near Oak Grove, San Diego County.
Several
pockets of topaz crystals were opened by F. H. Peterson, of Fryeburg,
Maine. The topaz was scattered through the black dirt in
