Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-02-26
AMERICAN PRECIOUS STONES
From the Scientific Americana

ed by the government, contains an inter-
esting paper by Mr.. George F. Kunz on
the history and production of gem stones
in America. For country so otherwise
richly endowed with mineral wealth as
the United States, her product of precious |
stones is surprisingly small. The total
value of gems mined in this country dur
ing 1884 amounted to but SS2,975. Al |
most two-thirds of this sum was for min
erals valuable only as cabinet specimens,
and therefore not strictly to be classed |
under the head of gems. In addition,
the value of the gold quartz withheld
from reduction for use in jewelry and as
specimens is calculated to be $4,000.
Though in point of quantity and value
among the most insignificant of the en-
tire list, the diamond as the stone of all
stones, naturally receives the first con-
sideration. Probably the largest one
ever found in this country is the Man
chester diamond, which was unearthed
by a laborer at Manchester, Va, about
the middle of the century. The gem was
not recognized at first, and by way of eX-
pertinent was placed in an iron furnace
at Richmond. After remaining at a red
heat for two hours and twenty minutes,
it was found to be unimpaired and bright
or than before. When recognized, it
was valued at $1,000. 1t passed through
number of hands, being cut at an eX-
pense of 81, 800 and at one time $4,000
was loaned on it. The original weight
was % 81 carats. This was reduced by
cutting to IL ll-lG caratS. As the stone
is otl-coor and imperfect it is not worth
to-day more than from $500 to 500. The
gold regions of North Carolina have pro-
duccd number of small diamonds.
/ Among the first discovered was a fine
Octohedron from Brindletown Creek.
valued at 500. \ number of stones, i'm
properly clasSed a. diamonds. proved ON
examination to be quartz pebbles or zir-
cons. Another stone. of fine white color,
found in "A South Carolina placer claim,
has reputed value of SlOO.
Some of the finest American diamonds
come from California, though their size
is generally quite small Professor Whit
nev states that the stone is found in fiji
teen or twenty different localities, the
largest that has come under his notice
having been discovered at French Corral.
1t weighed I IL caratS. The most pro
life locality has been at Cherokee Flats,
Butte county, where hydraulic operations
have disclosed Il number of diamonds of
all colors. white, yellow. straw. and rose
They are found with zirconS, platinum
iridium. and other associates of the dia-
mond. They are also found in connec'
ton with itacolumite. that peculiar fleX
ible sandstone which is likewise native tt
North Carolina. SO far as known, SJOI
} is the highest price ever paid for any Cal
ifornia diamond in the rough. Large
numbers. however. have been sold fol
) from so to $50. and not a few have
brought as much as 500. Among thu
I sapphire gems, a number of eXcellen
: specimens have been found, particularly
/ in North Carolina. Probably one of TIN
= finest known specimens of emerald greer
. sapphire was found at jerks mine. il
+ Franklin County. 1t is the Transparent
e part of corundum crystal, by , by l.
= inches. 1t would probably furnish gem
< to the amount of 100 carats. Being yer,
p rare. its value is over 81 900. Fine spec
a linens chrysoberyl and spinel have beel
in localities in
f land. New York. and the Southern States
a The Platte Mountains. in Colorado, hav
e afforded tina best crystals of topaz. On
of these weighs l25 carats, and is as fin
T gem of any kind as America has eve
e produced. The crystals gathered iron
this one locality, during a period of -four
l teen months, have sold for nearly a thous
: and dollars. Emeralds, beryls, and som
D of the less commonly known minerals
a such as zircon. tourmaine, and staurolite
, have been found in small quantities, bu
= have not proved of much importance Il
gems. In garnetS, however, America ha
+ produced stones comparable with the hes
= products of Africa and the East. Though
e smaller than those found in the diamont
! mines of the cape Good Hope, the garnet
i of the Colorado River plateau are unsur
n passed in color and clearness. The Cap
II garnets retain their dark color by artiti
Il cial light. but in the American nothin!
II but the clear blood color is visible. As
= mineral they are found all over the Unite,
\ States, wherever the older formations ar
e exposed, but it is only occasionally tina
II they are sufficiently transparent to ranl
: as gems.
: 1t is in the group of silicates that W,
: find the largest value among American
= gem minerals. In transparent quartz
>, particularly fine crystals have been foun,
Il in New York. The purple variety, tn
: well known amethyst, is quite common
q in New England, one specimen foun,
t near Cheshire, Conn, being almost equa
l. i'm color tO thp much nraiSpd SibpriaI