Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1872-08-21
The New Coiconda.
Discovery of Diamond Deposits In
Arizona.


Arizona.
1t has long been known, says the
Kansas City Times, that there arc
deposits of precious stones of greater
or less extent in Eastern Arizona and
Western New Mexico, but until re-
Gently no steps have been taken to
ascertain the value and extent of these
deposits. The AZtecs, at the time of
the Spanish conquest Of Mexico, had
large stores of rubics, cmeralds and
turquoiscs, which are not known to
be found in any part of the present
territory of Mexico, and which they
invariably told the conquerors came
from the North. Diamonds of an in
ferior quality have been quite numcr-
Gus ia Mexico for many years, and
the fact that they have a generally
similar appearance, and do not resent
bic the Brazilian, African or Asiatic
diamond i'll color, has led to the con-
clusion that they came from fields
somewhere OH the North American
continent.
The barren plaius and table lands
of Arizona and New Mexico abound
in species of large, black ant, which
dig holes in the light gravel for their
habitations, over which they throw
up the earth and gravel cxcavatcd in
large mounds. Thousands of these
little mounds may be seen all over
the face of the country, and large
quantities of gravel arc thus brought
to the surface by the insects. This
has been a great help to the hardly
prospectors who take their lives in
their hands and venture in spite of
the blood-thirsty, untamcd savages to
explore these frontier wilds in search
Of gold. Instead of digging up gray
cl, they take that dug up by the ant
and prospect it, and in addition to
this advantage, the aunt-llills serve as
an infalliblc guide 10 the localities
where gravel exists. Several years
ago all exploring party under Kit
Carson, the famous scout and guide.
found rubics Of Il deep color, varying
i'll size from that of a grain of " heat
TO small pea. Many of these were
given to friends now residing in Ari-
IONA, and about q dozen of the ru-
bics, with an emerald of very pale
color, were given toa gentleman of
San Francisco, by Fred. Henry, all
old frontiersman.
For several days past financial cir
cleS have been much excited over the
reported discovery of vast beds OF
gravel in these regions, rich in dia-
mouds, rubics, and other precious
stones.
Recently party of prospcctors re-
turned from the diamond fields to
San Francisco, bringing with them
y large number of gems obtained in
these fields. They comprise 700 dia-
monds, ranging in Size from pins
head to stone of hundred
carats. There is one very
fine large black diamond which
weighs lOS carats. There are num-
Der of others Of smaller size, and q
great number Of rubics, sapphircs,
and cmrralds. One of the rubics is
said to be the largest i'll the United
States. The value of the entire COL
lection cannot be definitely stated.
but they are estimated to be worth
fully 100000. This docs not include
quart or more of small stones not
yet carefully examined, nor does it
include the large diamond before re.
fcrrcd to. The emcralds arc of an iu.
ferior quality. -..
TIE VALUE OF DIAMONDS.
The present market value of ono
carat hriliants is SlO5. The value in
crcases rapidly with increase of size
Thus brilliant of two carats com
mands $500; one of three carats, 5000
four carats, 81 800 five carats, 81, as,
and SO OIL. These are jewelers. buy
ing prices. Stones Of less weight tha,
two grains. and Of the second quality
arc worth $45 per carat, Of thirt
quality, $3.50 per carat Til,
weight by which diamonds aud prc
cious stones are calculated is: Fou
grains make one carat +; one hundred
and fifty and one-half carats max
one ounce troy. The largest stone II
the collection sent to San Francisc,
by Mr.. Janin, the superintendent o
the work, will cut to a brilliaut,o %
four earats.
RUnIES AND sAPPHIREs.
Rubies, as is well known, are fol
the first quality moro valuable thai
diamonds. The value depends OH th'
color. Stones of the finest aud purcs
quality, well spread and proportion
: ed, sell at tho following prices On
5 carat, $40 to 800 two carats, $3.50 I,
: $400 three carats, $1,000 to $3.50
and four carats, 5000 to $2,25c