Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-02-18
AMERICAN GEMS.
Quality and Value of Precious stones
Found in the United States.

Found in the United States.
Mr.. George E. Kunz, of this city, is;
the author of an admirable monograph
on Precious Stones" issued by the
Department of the Interior, being an alb
stract from the Report of the United
States Geological Survey in regard to
the Mineral Resources of the United
States. In these sixty pages the
student of this most fascinating depart
ment of mineralogy will find in.
formation which he could not
possibly gather from other sources
or by any amount of personal
effort. Mr.. Kunz is an indcfatigable
student and collector, and writes no
line which does not contain some fact
of interest.
Considering the vast extent of our
territory, this country is not remark
able for its precious stones. In 1884
more than 100000 worth Of
diamonds and other precious stones
were imported and entered for con-
sumption in the United States. In
that same year it is roughly estimated
that the value of stones found in the
United States and sold as specimens,
curiosities and to cut into gems, was
considerably less than 100000. But a
very small part of this includes stones
ranked as precious, most of 1t being
expended for fine specimens of varieties
of quartz, garnets, etc. But our
variety of truly beautiful mineral de-
posts and crystals is rich enough to
awaken the enthusiastic. interest of
every one who finds in stones the en-
during glory which is so frail and
evanescent in foliage and flowers.
Diamonds have been found in Vir-
ginia, North Carolina, California and
other places, but nowherein such num-
bers and of such quality as to command
much attention; $500 is said to be the
highest price paid for, a California dia-
mond in the rough, though large num-
bers have been sold for from $40 to
800 each. Valuable emerald-green
sapphires Oriental emerald) have been
found at Franklin, N. c., and sap
phire gems of other types have been
found in other parts of the State, also
in Pennsylvania, Montana and else.
where. But all together they could
not be of much value, for the estimated
value of sapphire gems found and sold
in 1888 was $4,000, and in 1884 only
81 $50.
Still we have some remarkable tales
of gem discoveries relating to our own
neighborhood. Twenty years ago i'm
mense spinel crystals were found neal
Monroe, Orange County, N. Y. The
exact locality was known only to two
mineralogists, "who worked it for sew
eral years by moonlight for secrecy
and from 1t took crystals that realized
over $4,000. Since the death of til,
former miners the position of this mos
wonderful locality has been unknown.
One of the finest gems ever found il
America is topaz of 1875 carats, from
Platte Mountain, near Pixies Peak
Mr.. Kunz says that topaz crystals from
this locality are equal in quality t.
many of the finest of the same siz
from Siberia, and are sold at valua
ton of from fifty cents to 800 each.
Emeralds are found in New Englan,
and North Carolina, but scarcely an,
of gem value. Their near relatives
the beryls and aqua-marines, are foun,
in greater variety of places, ant
many of them are very transparent ant
beautiful.
Tourmalines abound at Mount Apa
tito, in Maine. They are found in othe
localities in that State, and also in othe
States.
As to garnets, Mr.. Kunz says tina
"there is undoubtedly no finer game
found that looks better in the evenin
than those from the garnet regions c
the United States. The dark color i
Cape garnets remains by artificial ligh,
whereas with the American garnet
nothing but the clear blood color
visible. They are of fine quality, an
plentiful on the great Colorado pls
teau" They are found also in oths
States west of the Rocky Mountain,
and in Maine, Pennsylvania, Virgins
North Carolina and elsewhere.
We have not space enough to mel
ton even few Of the great number {
beautiful quartz minerals and feldspal
which are described by Mr.. Kunz, sue
as the remarkable amethyst recent
J deposited in the National Museum,
inches long, Q inches wide, II inch'
, thick TRANSPARENT. faWless and men