PRODUCTION.
The
value of gems and precious stones produced in the United States in 1919
was $111,763, as against $106,523 in 1918—an increase of about 5 per
cent.
For
three years preceding 1917 the production of precious stones in the
United States steadily increased, but in 1917 and 1918 it decreased.
The scarcity and high price of labor seem to have been the chief causes
of the decline in operations. Recent information of renewed activity in
gem mining, however, indicates that within a few years the industry in
this country will regain its pre-war status.
Increases
in the production of tourmaline, turquoise, quartz, garnet, spinel,
variscite, jet, and fossil coral were reported. Tourmaline showed the
greatest increase in value, from $6,206 in 1918 to $17,700 in 1919;
quartz ranked second, with an increase of $2,421; and turquoise was
third, with an increase of $2,083. Variscite, jet, fossil coral,
garnet, and spinel showed increases of less than $1,000 each.
The production of jet in Utah was renewed after many years of inaction.
Arkansas
is credited with all the diamonds reported as produced in the United
States in 1919; Michigan with all the chlorastrolite, datolite, fossil
coral, and gem hematite; and Texas with all the meerschaum.
Decreased
production was reported for several minerals, especially opal, which
showed the largest decrease in value. Topaz showed a decline, due to
the fact that none of this mineral was reported from Maine or
California, as in 1918; and among other minerals of which a decrease in
production was reported were beryl, corundum, diamond, chlorastrolite,
copper-ore gems, datolite, feldspar, hematite, lapis lazuli, rhodonite,
spodumene, and thomsonite.
Value of precious stones produced in the United States, 1913-1919.
