The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-19
DIAMONDS.

Peerless Purity versus PsrisbabIe
Paste-HOw Diamonds are VaIued-The
Diamond Mines Of GOloonda and Brazil
-KOhinOr, the Mountain OF Light
.a The Lesser BrIllIants OF our BaIl-roOms
and ParIOrs-A Glance Into the Realms
Of Fashion.
: The diamond is crystallized gem, of all
Jewels the most esteemed Physically con-
Sldered, it is the hardest of all known sub
stances 1t cuts everything, and can be cut by
nothing save itself or its own dust.
The external coat of the diamond is said to
be harder than the internal the hardness of
the latter being rated at 10, and the former at
lO'5 or IL. The specific gravity of the Bra
lillian diamond is estimated at 3'444 of the
Brazilian yellow at 3'519 of the Oriental,
3'Ozl Oriental green, 1924; Oriental blue,
1925. The crystal of the diamond is octahe-
dral in form, resembling two four-sided pyra-
mlds joined at the base. The crystal has
cleavage planes which facilitate its cutting
Some varieties of the regular crystalline form
have been observed approaching to the spher-
cal, with curved edges, etc.
The diamond is not acted upon by acids or
alkalies. 1t can however, be acted upon by
heat. 1t can be destroyed by a Bunsen's
battery or a condensed mixture of carbonic
oxide and oxygen, resolved into a sort of coke
and submed. In the air it burns at about
the degree of heat necessary to melt silver,
and gives off carbonc gas. At first there were
some doubts as to the inhammability of the
diamond Newton however, from its great
Tefractive power, inferred its combustibility.
In the year 1895 it was burnt at Florence by
powerful concentration of the solar rays. Sir
Humphrey Davy, the French savant Lavoisier,
and others, also proved its combustibility
The phosphorescence of the diamond has
also been asserted, though, we believe, never
absolutely ascertained. Tiffany & Co. some
years ago made some experiments on this sub
ject but only succeeded in destroying their
diamonds. The diamond is one of the most
powerful refractors of light known, 1t pos
,Sesses single (and 5y some supposed to pos
sess dOuble) refraction. 1t is to this quality
that the superior brilliancy of the gem is due;
while, as it is so hard, it likewise retains its
lustre. When rubbed it becomes electrical
and attracts straw and hair-a property which,
it is said, no other uncut gem possesses. The
diamond shines more brilliantly by artificial
than by natural light. 1t can be readily
broken. The most singular fact about the
diamond is, perhaps, its chemical composition,
which is simply that of crystalized carbon or
coal, Just as the ruby is mere crystallized
clay. The most beautiful, it is also the most
simple of substances, and closely allied to the
most unattractive. What is still more sin
gular, though the diamond can be resolved
into carbon, carbon cannot be resolved into
the diamond. Mons. Despretz, Professors Hare
and Silliman, and many other learned men,
have attempted this latter feat, but have all
been unsuccessful, which is very lucky thing
for the owners of diamonds or else their pro-
perty would soon be comparatively valueless.
VARIETIES.
Diamonds are generally colorless or white,
but there are many colored diamonds. The
non-colored gems are called of the "frst
water, from their resemblance to a mass of
spring water, and are the most highly
esteemed. Then there are the rose-colored
diamonds, which are high in value then
the green diamond, and then the blue. The
yellow or cinnamon-colored diamonds are not
so much in demand as those varieties Just
mentiCned. There are also diamonds which,
Enough pure, are perfectly black. Diamonds
are also technically divided into three classes,
determined by their cutting and setting, as
the brilliant or Mazarine, the rose, and the
table. These will be described more fully
hereafter.
SOURCES.
The earliest diamonds were found in Asia
Borneo Bengal, and Golconda, i'll Hindostan.
Within a comparatively recent period they
have been derived from Brazil They have
also been found in Siberia, and to a very small
degree in Georgia and North Carolina Dia-
mOnds are often found along with gold in allu-
vial deposits. In Golconda the diamonds, it is
said, were found in a black, coaly earth. The
Itacolumite, yellow and white quartz-rock,
is often met in conjunction with diamonds.
The Golconda mines are no longer i'll opera
tion. In Brazil the diamond district is a very
mountainous region, about fifty miles long by
twenty-fou miles wide, and known as the Cerro
do Frio. The earth obtained from the beds of
rivers is carefully washed by slaves, under the
direction of overseers, and then thoroughly
examined and depleted of its treasures all
smuggling being severely punished-though
every slave who finds a diamond exceeding
173 carats is Immediately set free. The dia-
mOnds of Brazil were discovered by accident
and the diamands themselves were thought to
be mere tritles On official examination they
were only deemed to be crystals, and il was
reserved for Dutchman to ascertain their
real value. This, however, being once de-
cided, the Government was seized with a fit of
rapacity, took possession of the whole region,
and for a long while the diamond district of
Brazil was a terra igRotG to all save the slaves
and the Government agents. but in course of
time this mysteriously severe policy has been
relaxed.
THE DIAMOND AS AN ORNAMENT.
AS ga thing of beauty and a joy forever " the
diamond has been priced from the earliest
ages and in all lands. In the far-otf times, in
the "barbarous" East, diamonds and gems
were the favorite adOrnment and insignia of
princess; and in later periods, among the
masters of the world, the Romans, who far
Oxcelled in their luxury all modern splendor,
gems and diamonds were appreciated to the
utmost. The hall where Cleopatra entertained
Caesar was literally respeendent with jewels,
as was the lady herself. The very furniture
of the patricians was adorned with jewels
jewels sparkled in the sterns of ships; pre-