The Portland daily press., 1881-11-23
Pyeoious Stones in Southern
States.
N. Y. Journal of Commerce.

m. Y. journal of Commerce.
The rsport that emerads have oeen iounu
in North Carolina awaits Confirmation. IL Is
nossible that the beautiful green cryssai spo-
dumepe or Hiddenite may have been mlstaK-
an for the more precious stone. The former
has as,,donbtedly been discovered in Alexan-
der county, North G srolina, Thougn us con-
position is different from that OF the emerald
being made of aluGaina, silica and htnis iu-
stead Of alumina aloHe-the external resem-
bl,,cas of the two are very close They crystal
loo i, nearly the same prismatic forms. La
,,,,r ,hav arc almost IDENTICAL deep emer-
IA oraan The spodumeue, when cut and
rolished TO a gem, reveals an inward play or
color. or s.fre," as it is called, oy wnicn II
NAV be- distinguished from the true, steauy
green emerald. BY its intrinsic beauty " may
vt taka rank among the most valued gems.
Tha s,ecimens found in South Carolins are
,he finest known. Some OF them are found
three to six inches long aud an inou
thick. The largest are by no means the p7s''
the rich green weakening to watery "ne so-
ward the center They are also pitted win
SLIGHT depressions aud scored with parallel
l;nas These are defects imparing the appear
go. % the cut stones. The CHOICEST speci-
$50 a.Su have been taken from the eartn at
18th Of sixteen feet, and it is believed exca-
yario,s will yield still better results
II ia not i'm possible that the true emerald
nav he associated with this beautiful mineral
since sslumina is a compound material =, eno
| snodum,en. Such discovery, II verihea,
Would h., interesting and important; lt woulu
s,rangtha,f the opinion entertained oy m'her-
alnr;sts ,ha /. some of the precious stones may
| nat he ohta jned at the South, thus addihg 70
| yba var;atv a nd value OF our nauonai "ealen.
| Cisirns of .u,,h discoveries are apt 70 oe re- a.;
sn;.,aa ,v;,h u,1due suspicion. Since certain
ceiseu WI" os Nav York we're deceived into
"a s.s,t,oe of shares of "salted" rudy ana
Ia mine in @ slifornia 1t has oeen next 10
| ;snoss;hle 10 obtain credulous llstener mere
| fnr sncb stories as now c0me from North Oaro-
u a., e'S Wa oantion North Carolinians not 90
,.ai, ,a.H for helm from New York but to do their
own d;oeing for emernlds, and they may %
snre that the gennine article VIII always % cVui-
| mand a good price in New YORK or auy Vsnel .s
marker. The lovely spondam-ne, u solo on
~. assa ,,ar;ts and not palrned off as an emer-
ia NAV on its own merits win the appfosai
| If f,shion and be admitted TO the selees asn
| ily of precious stones. ,.;r ~ And
/ And let North Carolina not despair I..e5 =, In
/ inc diamonds Some months ago we iooo ~ ~
/ from = North Carolina subscriber thlI slao Vi
stnne the name of which no uss'iru " Ano" .
| We AZ once recogn zed u as isacoiu'n ~ 70, ! !
/ s,,aoas of sandstone, wi h the strange property
| f aaYihil;rv II can bs slightly Dent OF
| strarched or compressed in any ot its ulnea-
| s;anss Tnis remarkable srone Is almost lnvart
,hl1 fonnd in association with diamonds. Inc
| 80 ,yical reason of the connection Is nc NOT
snown. but the fact is unqueslioDed. lne
ssarchsr after treasure in south Carolln,s
shoald be encouraged by "dnd Oh i'aooi