National Republican., 1877-03-04

pounds, Is two and half feet high, ono foot in
diameter, and is perfect sided prism. A re.
the fluid drops contained in many specimens g.
Sir David Brewster ascertaincd that the fluid is
no, water, but Of an oleaEinous nature, one part
No,atinc at twenty-seyen degrees, and the other
n fixed oil.
Quartz has but little value of its own; but
tic objects, II acquires high price. The Athe.
mans produccd some exquisite works of art in
Toek and % 1,s very highly
which he broke In his rage when he heard Of the
revolt that caused his downfall. One OF these
Of Rome were in the habit ol using baiis Of rock
crystal to cool their hands, and certain ocult
charms were also said to reside in these smooth
cool globes. In the middle ages the Nenetians
produced some beautiful objects In rock crystal
and Milan has long been famous for It's statucttes
vases and Rirandoles OF this material. But desire
Of gain has deteroated the artistic value OF these
productions. Gut crystals have come to bo sold
BY weight, and the cutting Is naturally falling
intoneglect. In the cathedral at Milan the burial
shrine OF st. Charles Borromeo Is wholly formed
OF plates Of rock crystal Of six or eight inches
Shrine was gin Of Philip w Of spain, who en-. M
ploysd eight years in collecting the necessary
quantity OF rock crystal.
CoLoRED QUARTZ,
When crystals of quartz are found combined
with certain traces Of coloring matter, they con.
stitute distinct species In commerce. and take
completely different names. Combined with iron
the name of Bohemian topaz. tmpregnated with
n bituminous substance II be,omos more or less
darkened, and Is called the smoky topaz. Com.
ganeso il takes beautiful violet color It is then
the occidental amethyst, ColOrcd blue by iron
and alumina, 1t becomes the water sapphire. Col.
orcd rose by iron and manganese, Il Is the Brazil.
ian ruby. Combined with notable proportion of
oxide Of iron II becomes brown red, aud consti.
tutes the hyacnth Of compostclla. But among
really valuable, the amethyst and the water sap.
phire. The amethyst OF commerce to-day Is most
ly furnished by Brazil. In thatpart Of the world
amethyst sent from Brazil to Calcutta Is said 10
have weighed ninoty.clght pounds. Some Of the
brazilian specimens are Of Two colors. Count do
kind, half violet and half yellow. The anclonts
believed that wine, when drunk from an amethyst
cup, lost the power OF causing intoxicatlon. Ac-
found engraved upon ancient cups of amethyst.
FALSE JEWELS.
Under the name Of false Jewels are comprised
three kinds Of articles, the frst being stones sur
iciently hard TO resist file, the second being ar
third being what are called doublcts.
IL Is OF some Importance to examine this subject
because there is prevalent belief that ali false
are consequently Of little Hardness. People oftea
say when their rubes or their topazes arc rcd
false, But see, here is flc Try to scratch these
submit any piece OF quartz to the same test and
the result will be the same. Since, as we have
said hyaline T. very abundant in nature II Is easy
10 procure, at insignificant prices, stones that per-
iectly resist the file, and show, often In remark.
able manner, tho whole series Of colors we admire
in real precious stones. The coiorless varieties
sapphire and topaz, which in density, in hardness
and In refractive power differ but little from the
diamond, are frequently cut into roses and bril-.
liants and sold for diamonds. A proof OF this fact
Is furnished by the commercial price of the color.
less topaz, which Is much greater than It could
obtain as topaz. 1t is valued In the secret hone
that after cutting 1t may be sold for diamonds.