Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-18
TURQUOISE IN LARGE QUANTITIES.

TURQUOISE IN LARGE QUANTITIES.
Turquoise is found in large quantities in New
Mexico. and also in Arizona. Nevada and Col
orado. 1t is quarried out Of the rocks, through
which it runs in blue veins, with now and then
corcretions called nuggets, which sometimes
afford stones OF value. Mount Chalchihuiti.
twenty miles from Santa Fe, is largely under,
mined with ancient Indian workings for this
mineral In the so-called '.Wonde. Caves re-
Gently discovered there. which were excayated
by the natives OF old, are to be seen many veins
of turquoise two inches in thickness running
through the goid-bearing quartz which forms
the wallis. The deposits are only worked in a
desultory way at present by residents in that
vicinity. chiefly Indians. who grind such speci-
mems as they obtain into rude shapes and cell
them at the rate of Is cents for the contents of
mouth, where they usually carry them
Skulls encrusted with turquoises arc sonnet times
found in that part OF the country such objects
having been held sacred by the Mexcans of
former days.
The finest garnets in the United States are
found in New Mexico, Arizona and southern
Colorado, where they are often called rubies
Such Of them as are discovered in New Mexico
are picked up on the Naval 10 reservation, where
the Indians collect them on ant hills and near
the excavations made by scorpions. Both scor-
pions and ants bring them to the surface, when
they find the stones obstructing their under
ground galleries and chambers. Gems Of this
sort OF exceptional size and beauty sometimes
three carats in weight. In North Carolina gar
net crystals are sometimes come across, which
though not tine enough for gems, weigh as
much as twenty pounds each and may he cut
into dishes or cups measuring from three to
six inches across. Tons Of them are crushed to
make emery" and the sand paper called gar
net paper" At Hubby mountain in Colorado is
o remarkable deposit OF such great garnet
crystals. which. being included in soft matrix,
usually come out perfect in their beautiful
geometrical shapes. At least five tons Of them
have been sold for use a. paper weights and
ornaments.
xMERALDs OF VALUE.
Emeralds OF value have been numerously
found in Alexander county, NC. They are
discovered in pockets in the rock and
a company is regularly organized at Stony
Point for working the mines there. Some
beautiful beryls-the emerald is variety Of
| beryi-have been secured in the neighborhood
Of Haddam, Conn, and the largest beryls in
the world are obtained at Grafton and Ac-
! worth, NH. From the former locality q crys.
tai over six feet long WAS quarrisd, and another
weighing two and 9 half tons. These wonder
| full crystals IRE OF pale green color. Such
specimens rarely have transparent spots so
large rs to allow the cutting Of even q small
| gem. Aquamarine, another sort Of beryl, is
| plentiful in New England. The richest col
| ored gems Of this kind come from ROyalston,
Mass. Though small they are almost a. blue
- sapphires Chrysoberyl IL found in many
parts Of Maine, but not Of sufficient transpar-
sncy 10 have gem value.
TONS OF ROCK CRYSTAL.
Rock crystal il plentiful in various localities
Of the United States. mass Of il Weighing
dfty-one pounds from North Carolina was sent
four years ago to Tiffany 4 Co. In New York.
The original crystal, which must have weighed
800 pounds, was unfortunately broken in pieces
BY the ignorant mountain girl who discovered
IL One VERY useful uurpOee To which thia
mineral substance il put II the manufacture Of
mirrors yhen 1t can BE- found in big enough
blocks u aawed into slabs Of sufficient size.
IL supetsity over glass lies In the fact that il