The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-04-07
BEAUTIFUL oPALs.
The Seven Varieties Found In Different
Parts OF Mexico.

1 Parts OF MexICOs
Newspaper readers are occasionally
regaled with sensational reports re-
garding the shipment Of all kinds Of
precious stones from Mexico. They are
alleged to be veritable Kohinoors In
value and are described as the accumu-
lations of some adventurous spirits
fleeing from the land of "God and
liberty" 1t is fact, however, that
though many precious and semi
precious stones are to be found in the
mountains of Old Mexico, the opal is
the only stone of value which is found
in quantities. The object of this arti-
Gle is to give few details regarding
this subject, biased upon government
reports. and it would be well to note at
the outset that the mining laws Of
Mexico are exceptionally wise and that
her geologists are experts.
The opal is the only gem that has
been discovered in the Republic in suf-
ficient quantities to make its exploita-
ton worthy Of the investment Of capi.
tai. Being the only precious stone
that can not be successfully initiated,
! It's value Is standard.
! The Mexican opals are highly appre-
ciated, not only on this side of the At
lantic, but also in Europe, to which
they have been exported in large
quantities.
Seven varieties of Mexican opals have
\ been distinguished from each other.
They are the fine, the common. the
talf the xilopalo, the jasper, the opal
MALTA and the opal menilia. The COM
mon opals are found in Zamapan, near
the Sanctuary of Guadaloupe Hidalgo.
There is also the fire opal, which is a
variety of the common. 1t is of red
hyacinth, or of u white, red and blue
color.
In the ravine of Tepegala. which
runs on one side of the mountain of
Las Navajos, in the District of Mineral
del Monte, are found fine opals in n
conglomerate composed principally of
trachytic porphyry, This bed was dis
covered in 1851. The porphyry forma-
ton in which opals are found is of a
reddish gray color, varying to lighter
in some localities.
The most noted opal beds in Mexico
are those on the estate of La Esperanza,
situated about thirty miles northwest
of the city of SaE Juan del Rio, State of
Qucretaro They were discovered in
1855 by Don Jose M. Sinrob, q resident
of Queretaro. In 1870 he opened the
first shop in the mountain of Ceja de
Leon, and named it the "Mine of Santa
Maria Iris"
The noble opals found at Esperanza
are distinguishable for the intensity
and extent of their reflex. Some of
them when viewed from different sides
presented only one reflex. which pro-
longed itself without any interruption.
In others the first brilliant view was
substituted by more, isolated or ming
ling with the first color seen, forming
q beautiful combination which could be
lillened only to the colors of well de-
fined rain bow.
The opal called Harlequin is noted
for the density and smallness of its col
ored points, constituting in effect an
exquisite mosaic of small size. Among
the different colors presented by the
opals found at the Santa Maria Iris
Mine are the violet. blue and the milky,
with green and red reflex.
On the estate of Ell Artillero, in the
State of Michoacan. rich beds Of opals
have been known as the mines of La
! Concordia, Ell Refugio, Jesus Maria,
San Miguel, Guadaloupe, Ell Rosario,
San Jose and San Nicolas. Fine opals
3 have also been found on the estate OF
> Salada, north of the city of San Luis
Potosi, in the State of that name.
Diamonds have been found in the
Sierra Mudra Mountains of Southern
Mexico, near Tetela del Rio. in the
shape of beads. with amethyst and rock
. crystal. Breaking these stones the
:, diamonds in the shape of octahcdrons
were discovered, similar to those found
in the Indies and in Brazil. The weight
of several was eighteen karats gross.
Topazes and sapphires are found in
nearly all the States of Mexico, while
the ruby is found in the State of Du
range and in the placers of Lower Cal.
ifornia.
Emeralds and ,beryls are found in
= Tcjupilco, in Hidalgo and in Sierra
Gorda, State of Guanajuato.
Agates, onyx and jasper abound il
: such profusion that they are not claimed
rs precious stones.
V In conclusion it may be said that the
descendants of the Montezumas have
: made no greater discoveries, either il
!, precious stones or in gold and silver
= than the miners of centuries ago, an(
it is matter of record in the archives
y of the Republic that among the precious
= stones seized by Cortez was an emerald
as large as the palm of hand, anf
probably the largesr in the world.
JeWelers' Weekly.