Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-10-04
96.S5

The green stones are esteem II bF inc lapia,i-
nv and those found near ESa,crinenburs III
Kus,ia are vatied highly. ihc sptcim-n.
found at Mt. Desert are OF Il beautiful NJ, anu
bueish green. like the turquoise, but mu:h
impaircd by tn action of the waves and the
elements during many centuries.
II is very probable that by blasting u few feet
into the ledses. perfect specimen my be
obtained and rs delicate in hd, rs the true ttir-
cuoiscs which com: from the hhorassar IN FER
sia
thi, State i, one of the most celebrated locali-
ties for minerals in the known world, anu ~
sicll is freqlcntcd by mincraloSists from lar
aud near. Here i'll \ little area oi less than
forty feet square more than thirty different
kind, of minerals have been f5aad, SOM Oh
them rare and beautiful.
The tourmanlinc,, which have been discov-
cred here, are cassed amongst the most per-
feet and splendid specimens yet obtained IN any
country, A small one taken out by blasting
the ledge by one of oar New England mine
raogsts few years aso, WAS valued at the Lon
don Exhibition at fftreR hWHttfed d9ttds's-
This remarkable locality was discovered III
1919 bv Hon. Z. l.. Hamlin. from whom We
obtain most of thi, information. At this time
Mr.. Hamlin aud DIR. Holmes were searching
the hills of this region for minerals and were
passing over this hiiiock-which has since been
called Mt. Mica-on their return home, when
MIR. Hamlin's eye was attaacted b. the glitter
OF lltlin green StONS tNlOstd " ' lew ~ 'hc
u,turned root of a fallen tree. lie picked 1t
up, bat observed no more owing to the dusk
OF evening.
On the next morning. returning. they found
Oh the surface of the earth. or loose in the sou
formed over the lccomposcd rock, several
hanLltuls of beautiful green, red anu blue stones
of the value and composition OF which they
were ignorant. Surprising that they could hnd
many more b. digging i'll the earth. they sent
these stones TO mtncraogists and friends. For
some time the nature OF these minerals could
not be determined. Evea Prof. Cleveland did
not know what they were. Therefore these
gem, soon scattered without any one being
aware of their value, anu the whereabouts OF
the rest of them is unknown ut the present
day. It's said that amongst the crown jewels
of Russia. there are some me tourmane, from
North America. Perhaps some OF these arc
the missing stones. The matriN where these
gems are found is known rs aibito granite anu
1t is filled with dccomposed tourmaline, rag
mcnts of epiiolitc and other rare minerals.
/ Now and thc.l II cavity exhibits more perfect
specimens. The rock is by no means exhaust
/ ed but hardly explored. 1t is believed that
deep blasting as for emcralds III Pcru or topaz
es in SaNony, very valuable stones might be
obtained.
| Tourmalinc is s'onc of the most interesting
| species in the mineral kingdom OH account o
/ the forms of its crystals, its various aud fici
colors, its electrical properties anu It's coinpo'
sition.' 1t is of various coiors, being eithef
black, white, red, blue. or green.
! The red variety which is called rubelitc com
mandS the highest price, and when tree from
| fractures and tibres, ranks equally with the
/ ruby IN value.
/ The green WAS formerly called the Brazilian
emerald, and when free from impcrfections Is
very valuable. Mr.. lIamu has little one
set in pin and it is almost equal in beauty ant
value to the emerald.
The blue variety, which ranks next in com
mercial value, is called indicoiite, and Is some
times passed of a. the sapphire. like tliost
from Brazil, which are not sapphires bu tour
maincs, IS is shown by the specific gravity and
inferior hardness.
| Tie brown sub-species is valued by mcros'
copist>. rs it possesses the singular property oil
polarizing light when its plates are cut parallel
| to its axis.
| Several other precious stones are found III
Maine. among them the garnet and the bcryi
The beryl is species of emerald Is not idehti
cal with the true emerald. This is known
among jewellers ~ aqua marine. and orilS.
| high price when pure and perfect. very nne
one clear as crystal. and Of fine mountain green
was discovered on Streaked Mountain IN fari'
several years ago, bat it WAS unforinnaiei!
lost in the streets of Portland and never re-
covered.
| Very fine amethysts have been found in OK
! ford County and when cut Wed with The best
gems in limpidity and hue.