The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-03-04
GEMS OF THE UNITED STATES.
TIE Product of Precious Stones Surpris

lished by the government, contains an
interesting paper by Mr.. George F. Kunz
on the history and production of gem
stones in America. For a 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 during 1884 amounted to but
Se2,975. Almost two-thirds of this sum
was for minerals valuable only as cabi-
net 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 jew
elry 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 q labcrer at Manchester, w., about
the middle of the century. The gem was
not recognized at first, and by way of e1-
pertinent was placed in an iron furnace
at Richmond. After remaining at red
heat for two hours and twenty minutes,
it was unimpared and brighter than be-
fore. When recognized, it was valued at
$4,000. AS the stone is off-color and i'm
perfect, it is not worth to-day more than
from $500 to $40O. The gold regions of
North Carolina have produced number
of small diamonds. Among the first dis
covered was a fine octohedron from
Brindlctown creek, valued at $100.
Some of the finest American diamonds
come from California, though their size
is generally quite small. Professor Whit
ney states that the stone is found in
fifteen or twenty different localities, the
largest that has come under his notice
having been discovered at French Corral.
1t weighed IA carats. Among the
sapphire gems, number of excellent
specimens have been found, particularly
in North Carolina Probably one of the
finest known specimens of emerald green
sapphire was found at jerks mine, In
Franklin county. It is the transparent
part of corundum crystal, 4 by 1-2
inches. 1t would probably furnish gems
to the amount of 100 carats. Being very
rare, it's value is over $1,000. Fine speci-
mems of chrysoberyl and spinel have been
found in various localities in New Eng
land, New York, and the southern states.
The Platte mountains, in Colorado, have
afforded the best crystals of topaz. On
of these weighs 1875 carats, and is as fine
q gem of any kind as America has ever
produced.
In garnets, America has produced
stones comparable with the best products
of Africa and the east. Though smaller
than those found in the diamond mines
of the cape of Good Hope, the garnets OF
the Colorado river plateau are unsur-
passed in color and clearness. The cape
rarnets retain their dark color by arti-
fetal light, but in American nothing but
the clear blood color is visible. 1t is in
the group of silicates that we find the
largest value among American gem
minerals. In transparent quartz, par
ticularly fine crystals have been found in
New York. The purple variety, the we'll
known amethyst, is quite common in
New England, one specimen found near
Cheshire, Conn, being almost equal in
color to the much praised Siberian gems.
The most remarkable native amethyst
is that recently deposited in the National
museum by DR.. Lucas. 1t is q turtle
shaped prehistoric cutting, which meas
ures Sd inches in length, 2 inches i'll
width, and l 1-2 inches in thickness.
The whole stone IS transparent and with
out flaw. Smoky quartz has returned
the largest revenue of any of the gem
stones, amounting in 1884, to $4,000.
The finest specimens are those from Bear
creek, Colorado, where finely developed
CRYSTALS, from al inch to over four feet
in length have been found. Quartz
crystals containing fluid cavities with
moving bubbles are of particular inter.
est. and have been found in number OF
localities. The beautiful green variety
Of fcldSpar known as Amazon stone,
which has been found in fine crystals at
Pixies peak, is much priced as cabinet
specimens.
Numbers of minerals also, which have
but Il nominal value in themselves, are
made up into attractive articles. An
thracite is carved and turned into va.
rcty of pretty trinkets, of which $4,000
to So, 900 worth are sold annually. Pipe
stone from those red pipestone quarries
in Minnesota which are SO well known to
readers of "Hiawatha" is still used for
the same purposes, only that the pipes sell
for 81 to $50 apiece, according to the
carving, and circulate strictly among
mortals. American.