Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1886-03-27
NO. 5.
PRECIOUS STONES.
The insignifieant Quantity of Gems Found
In This Country.

The insignifieant Quantity of Gems Found
In This Country.
1t is remarkable circumstance that
although this country is so rich in
its mineral resources, and the world
draws from us great part Of its sup,
ply of the precious metals, we have, SO
far, discovered here only an insignificant
quantity of precious stones. The total,
value Of the gems proper mined in the
United States in 1884 was less that
SS5, 900, and yet we imported during
] the same year more that $1,000
/ worth of diamonds and other precious
stones
The subject is elaborately treated by
George +. kunz in a recent volume on
"The Mineral Resources of the United
States, published by the Government,
and his paper contains an array of
facts of very great and peculiar in
terest.
Diamonds. it seems, have been found
in various parts of the country, but
chiefly in California and North Caro-
lima, though the largest diamond yet
discovered here was dug up by la
borer, thirty or more years ago, in
Manchester. Va This stone, not at
first recognized, weighed originally
23} carats, and when reduced by
cutting, IL ll-l6 carats, and il was
deemed SO valuable that at one time
SO, 200 was loaned on il, though now,
because of its undesirable color and
certain imperfections. it is not worth
more than twentieth part of that sum.
The California diamonds, found in
fifteen or twenty different places. tho
most prolific being Cherokee Flats,
Butte County. are of all the colors
known in the stone, white, yellow,
straw, and rose, but they are generally
very small, ranging in value from ten
TO fifty dollars each. The largest. dis
covered at French Corral, weighed
seven and onc-quarter carats, and
many are unearthed whose value in the
rough is not less than one hundred dol
lars. Diamonds are also found in
North Carolina, in association with the
flexible sand stone, called itacolumite,
which is peculiar to that State, where,
too, sapphires of notable brillianey
have appeared. A sapphire found at
' -
of the finest known specimens of the
emerald green variety, and because of
its great rarity is probably worth one
thousand dollars.
Fine specimens Of crysobcryl, stone
which sometimes is almost equal in APP
pearancc TO the yellow diamond, aud is
obtained in Brazil and Cey-
lon. have been found in different parts
Of New England, New York, and the
Southern States, and the spinel,
gem, which is often sold for
oriental ruby, il distributed the same
way The best crystals of topaz come
from the Platte Mountains IN Colorado,
one of these, weighing one hundred and
twenty five carats, being an eNtraor-
iinarily fine gem. Only insignificant
quantities of emeralds and beryls have
oeen found within our boundaries, but
garnets. which, although smaller, are
'qual to the best of Africa and Cey-
on, are discovered on the Col
,rado river plateau The amethyst
$ quite common in New England, and
appears in several places in the South
'rn States. One specimen, found near
,heshire, in Connecticut, rivals in color
he best amethyst of Siberia, but the
most remarkable native amethyst is
hat lately deposited in the National
1useum by DIR. Lucas. II is turtle
haped, prehistoric cutting, 3-4 inches
n length, 2 inches in width, and IL
nches in thickness, is transparent and
awless
OF all the gem stones, however, the
.rcatest revenue, in 1884 ten thousand
ollars, comes from smoky quartz the
NEST specimens of which are found at
,car Creek, in Colorado. There are
lso many beautiful examples of the
ess valuable stones which are in de-
nand for cabinet collections, such as
he green feldspar, or Amazon stone,
ound at Pixies Peak
But, SO far, comparatively little at
nntion has been paid to the search for
recious stones in the United States,
hough their use is much more general
mong our people than among those
( other countries. Very likely if the
unit was pursued methodically and
ersistently we should not be sending
lillions abroad annually TO buy dia-
londs, sapphires, rubies, cmcralds and
ther brilliant and beautiful stones for
he adornment Of our women, and to
md additional glory to the hotel clerk.
'et, however great the results obtained
rom such a search, the actual profit
eriVcd from the industry would prob
bly, fail TO justify and properly reward
ne labor expended upon it.-N. /.
ttfl.