Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-02-18
AMERICAN GEMS.
Quality and Value of Precious stones
Found In the Quilted States.


Quality and Value of Precious stones
Found In the Uuited States.
Mr.. George E. Kunz, of this city, ID
the author Of an admirable monograph
on Precious Stones" issued by the
Department of the InteSior, being an abb
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 indefatigable
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 s9.OOO,OO) 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
lIaited States and Aold as specimens,
curiosities and to cut into gems, was
considerably less than $1,000 But a
very small part of this includes stones
ranked as precious. most of it being
expended for fine specimens of varieties
Of quartz, garnets, etc. But our
variety of truly beautiful mineral de-
posts and crystals is I1ch 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 nowhere in such num-
bers and of such quality as to command
much attention; $500 is said to be the
highest price paid for 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 $2,2O and in 1884 only
S1,750.
Still we have some remarkable tales
of gem discoveries relating to our own
neighborhood. Twenty years ago i'm
mense spinel crystals were found near
Monroe, Orange County, N. Y. The
exact locality was known only to two
mineralogists, who worked if for sew
eral years by moonlight for secrecy,
and from 1t took crystals that realized
over $1,000. Since the death of the
former miners the position of this most
wonderful locality has been unknown"
One of the finest gems ever found in
America is topaz of l25 carats, from
Platte Mountain, near Pixies Peak.
Mr.. kunz says that topaz crystals from
this locality are equal in quality to
many of the finest of the same size
from Siberia. and are sold at valua-
ton of from fifty cents to 800 each.
Emeralds are found in New England
and North Carolina, but scarcely any
of gem value. Their near relatives,
the beryls and aqua-marines. are found
in a greater variety of places, and
many of them are very transparent and
beautiful.
Tourmslines abound at Mount Apa-
tito, in Maine. They are found in other
localities in that State, and also in other
States.
As to garnets, Mr.. Kunz says that
there is undoubtedly no finer garnet
found that looks better in the evening
than those from the garnet regions of
the United States. The dark color in
Cape garnets remains by artificial light,
whereas with the American garnets
nothing but the clear blood color is
visible. They are of fine quality, and
plentiful on the great Colorado pla-
teau." They are found also in other
States west of the Rocky Mountains.
and in Maine, Pennsylvania, Virginia,
North Carolina and elsewhere
We have not space enough to men,
ton even few of the great number of
beautiful quartz minerals and feldspars
which are described by Mr.. Kunz, such
as the remarkable amethyst recently
deposited in the National Museum, 2s
inches long. inches wide, II inches
thick, transparent, flawless and uncut
~ Y. Observer.