The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-24
CANADIAN PRECIOUS STONES.
LabradOrite, of Which the Prince OF
Wales Had "a Set OF JeWelry Made.
Montreal Witness

Wales Had "a Set OF Jewelry Made.
Montreal Witness.
Near the corner of st. Lamberts Hill, |
on St. James street, there is small work
shop, not particularly inviting in appear
ance, with few blocks of stone in the
window, of no apparent value. Nine out
of ten persons would pass it unnoticed,
and vet it contains museum OF wonder
full interest to the naturalist and OF much
profitable instruction to the general stu
dent. The shop is the workshop of lapi-
Diary, Mr.. Samuel R. F. Dick, than whom
a more competent authority upon the sub
ject of Jewels does not exist.
Are there many precious stones found
in Canada, Mr. DickY' was the first ques-
ton put by our reporter.
"There are a great many; but it is sur
prising how little people know concern
ing them. We have in Canada as beauti-
full specimens of their kind as you will
find anywhere. Now, you, perhaps, do
not know that there are such stones as
Quebec diamonds, which are really rock
crystals. / have one specimen here,
which l will show you," and the speaker
produced beautiful crystal of intense
brilliancy ard whiteness. "Ihere are
some which an ordinary person could not
tell at first from a diamond. The one
you now see," he continued, "is just as it
was found-it has never been cut; most
of them have the same appearance"
"What other stones are there peculiar
to CanadaT'
"The Ottawa district contains quite
number of them. Here, you observe, is
specimen of Labradorite, 50 called be-
cause it was first found on the coast OF
Labrador by the Morayian missionaries
sixty years ago"
The sample submitted was common
looking stone of dull, grayish color, but
when held in certain positions exhibited
beautiful opalescent lustre, of a deep,
rich blue, far superior 10 any manufac-
tured shade it is possible to find. AT GER
tain times all the colors of the rainbow
are reflected upon its surface.
every little is known of this beautiful
stone," observed he lapdary. "I believe
the Prince of Wales had a set of jewelry
made from it-so have been told. 1t is
strange so little should be known of this.
If fashion were to introduce it, society
would soon become charmed, for, as you
see, it is very lovely"
"Where are they foundw
"They are generally enclosed in bowl
ders, and great care is required in taking
them out, as they are liable to crack.
Garnets are also found in the Ottawa
District of very fair quality, but small
in size. Zircon, stone about which very
little is known, except that it has the
quality of double refraction in a high
degree, is also found in this district. As
you see, it is four-sided prism, which,
when polished, gives beautiful red sur
face. Next, there are green sapphires
found in tolerably large numbers. They
are not very valuable, however, although
exceedingly hard. Pearls have also been
found near the Bay Chaleur, both large
in size and very good in quality. Quite
a number, l believe, have been found
near the Restigouche."
care there many agates found in the
DominionY'
"Those are peculiar to Lake Superior
and consist of two kinds-gray and red
each is similar in its character to the
onyx. We have also the chalcedony OIL
red carnelian. Some of the most deli.
cate shades of color are contained il
them, as you can see in those samples
have. The chlorastrolite (from chlor
green, and astro, the heaven), very mucl
resembling the malachite, are also founc
in Lake Superior.
"Do you think there are sufficient
precious stones in Canada fer exporta
tion%
"There are plenty, and our native
agates are equal to any | have seen any
where. About twelve months since
made bracelet of Canadian agates Sc
in gold, and they were equal in appear
, ance and polish to any stone used for tn
Y same purpose"