The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-27

after. while panning for god IN the same
stream another diamond was found al
though it was off color. In the summer
OF 1855 four diamonds were found while
sluicing for gold in three weeks time.
The most perfect stone was secreted by 4
workman. In 1889 three or four more dia-
monds were found, but very small ones.
One of these stones, which l examined
could have been cut into a diamond OF
value. 1t could have been made perfect
brilliant of about 3-16ths of a carat"
docs this indicate that there may be
diamond fields in Wisconsin," Mr.. Kunz
was asked.
With the hesitation of a man of science,
he replied: lit is certainly new locality
for diamonds, yet am inclined to doubt
that these sands will be very prolific, or
that the discovery will be likely TO be of
any commercial value. 1t is, however. in
teresting, since it is now established that
diamonds have been found in the United
States
Vague reports have been circulated in
the newspapers that diamonds have been
found in meteorites; can that be posi-
bie?'
We'll, there was meteor discovered in
Arizona in which very hard spot was
found which resisted the chisei. On treat
ment this spot produced a powder, and the
cavity which contained this powder Prof.
Koenig believes was lined with crystal
iized carbon. In this meteor there GER
tainly appeared to be the diamond form
of carbon"
Mr.. Kunz, as he was answering the ques-
ton about meteorIc diamonds, took from
his drawer something which. as he held 1t
in his hand, had the color, although not
exactly the shape, of blue birds egg.
In shape it was more suggestive OF the
form of peacan nut, excepting that 1t was
not pointe dat the ends.
II Of hat ho. M a n
exquisite blue? 1t is the blue of the sky
upon perfect June day. That is tur-
quoise, far and away the finest in America,
and it came from these new mines in New
Mexico. 1t is worth $4,000. Very few as
beautiful specimens of this gem have been
taken from the Persian mines, and 1t IS a
matter of some commercial interest as
we'll as of consequence to the lovers Of
gems that the indications are that these
new mines are to be protitably worked"
"Was tho discovery of them accidental
or had there been suspicion that turquoise
existed there?"
.'Oh, there were old turquoise mines.
and the indications are plenty that they
were worked by the aborigines. In fact,
Indian graves have been opened there, in
which have been found a few polished
turquoise beads. l think it was a little
less than two years ago that mine few
miles from Los Cerrillos, N. NJ, was
ledSeU TO Eastern capitalists. Two or
three others were also leased. In the time
of the earlier civilization of that region
there must have been great deal of work
done. Prior to this recent development of
the mine the stones produced had little
commercial value, and yet since this mine
has been skillfully worked, several thou
sand stones have been produced, and it Is
probable that gems to the value of $780,
600 year may be obtained from this mine.
There are two varieties in these New Mex
leo turcuoises. Those found near Los Ger
rilIos are very beautiful sky-blue. like
this one, but those obtained in the mines
in Grant county are of a greenish tinge,
more of a robins egg suggestion in color"
''The turquoise is likely to change color,
is it not"
Eyes, there is always that contingency
in turquoise, and yet this is to be said of
these new gems that are being obtained
out there that jewelers. are willing to guar
antee the stones, so that if there is change
in color after one of these turquoise is
bought another will be given in exchange
for it.
The turquoise was a popular stone
among the aborigines, and | discovered
when I was out there that at the annual
fiesta in honor of the Indians patron
saint at the Pueblo of San Domingo the
Indians bestow upon wooden image of
the saint strings of turquoise beads, some
of them of the most exquisite color, and
on the center of the breast of the image
is one of those remarkable turguoise-en-
crus.ed clam shells ike that one found by
Lieut.. Cushing In Arizona. l think Amer
leans are to be congratulated, and in fact
all lovers of gems, that the threatened ex-
haustion of the Persian mines is likely to
be compensated by these important dis
coveries in New Mexico"
On the desk before Mr.. Kunz there Law a
small but exquisite opal. 1t was a stone
of wondrous beauty, and he was asked
where it came from.
That" said he, sis from the Ural
mountains; but do you know that since
my book was published, very recently, in
fact, there have been discoveries of Amer
lean opals which suggest that We NAV
have mines here that will furnish gems
equal to the Hungarian. Itwas no longer
ago than August, 1890, that James Allen.
who is ieweler, happened to see in pile
of rock thrown out by a workman who
was digging we'll in the state of Wash
ington, and very near the Idaho line, a
gem which proved to be a genuine fire
opal. This stone was thrown out from
Oepth of twenty-five feet and the rock
from which it came on examination was
found to be filled here and there
| with cavities containing the precious
opal. Some of them were no larger
than small pea. and there were some as
large as hens egg. l examined some OF
the specimens, and l tell you they were
very fine. | do no: know whether the
gems are going to be as plentiful as they
tell me is likely to be the case, but if they
are and the mines are properly worked,
| they are sure 10 Income very successful
| from a commercial point Of view. Already
| / should say $500. 600 worth of gems have
been taken. There are, of course some
| white opals found in Mexico, and saw on
| a recent trip on the figure of saint in the
| church of JuradO an exquisite celestial
| blue opal as large as mans thumb. sus-
| pended from the neck 1t was given by
| one of the poems as votive offering for
| the speedy recovery of a relative"
OF late a number of paragraphs have
| appeared in the newspapers about the sap
| phires that have been found in Montana.
| and it has even been said that an English
| company with many hundred thousand
| dollars of capital has been organized TO
work these Montana bars for gems
Mr.. kunz says that three years ago 4. 900
acres were purchased or an option obtained
for the purpose OF working the sands
for sapphire. Mining engineers have
| estimated that this property will weld
1000 ounces of sapphires to the acre, but
Mr.. kunz says that only part of them
will be of such quality as to warrant cut
ting into gems.
II should not feel justified in urging any
friends of mine who had interest in these
sapphire mines to expect any very rich
returns. One reason is, owing to the high
price OF cutting sapphire gems and the
small demand existing for stones except-
| ing those which have the true ruby red or
sapphire blue"
In this cautiously expressed opinion Mr..