RANK OF STATES.
Montana
led all other States in the value of precious stones produced in 1919,
a position she has held since 1911. The output consisted of sapphire,
quartz of several varieties, and Iceland spar. Montana was the only
producer of corundum (sapphire) and Iceland spar in the United States
in 1919.
Maine
rose to second place in 1919, her increase being due chiefly to a
larger production of tourmaline, which is spoken of at greater length
in another part of the report. Beryl, of which she was the sole
producer, and quartz, of the rock crystal and smoky varieties, were
also reported.
Arizona
ranked third, and her output was chiefly turquoise. Small quantities of
copper-ore gems, garnet, and quartz were also reported.
Nevada dropped from second to fourth rank in 1919, and the total production decreased from $21,674 to $13,679.
California,
which dropped from third to fifth place in 1919, produced chiefly
quartz of several varieties, tourmaline, and turquoise. She also
produced small quantities of lapis lazuli, rhodonite, spodu-mene, and
variscite, of all of which, except variscite, she was the only producer.
IMPORTS.2a
The
precious stones (excluding pearls) imported into the United States in
1919, as reported by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce,
Department of Commerce, were valued at $91,958,830, the highest value
reported for the last 10 years. The value of the pearls produced is
omitted from the total, for pearls are not a mineral but an animal
product, being deposited in the shells of mol-lusks. They are lustrous
calcareous concretions with animal membrane between successive layers,
and they owe their beauty and value to their organic part; but as they
are among the most desired of gems, their value is given in a separate
column in the table of imports.
General
imports and imports for consumption for any period will differ to the
extent that the value of entries for warehouse for the period differs
from the value of withdrawals from warehouse for consumption. The term
" entry for consumption " is the technical name of the import entry
made at the customhouse and implies that the goods have been delivered
into the custody of the importer and that the duties have been paid on
the dutiable portion. Some of them may be afterward exported.
1 Production of each State more than $1,000 and less than $2,000.
2 Michigan, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Production of each State less than $1,000.
2»
Statistics compiled by J. A. Dorsey, of the United States Geological
Survey, from records of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce.
