The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-31
SOME NEWS ABOUT GEMS.
oPALs FROM 4 NEWLY DISCOVERED
MINE IN WASHING TOW STATE
A Talk with Mr. Kupx, the Expert in
Precious stones-Goiden Jewels In .
observation-disclosures Incrc asine In Value
-Rubies Guarded by Fever-Novei Way
or Gem Cutting In tho Urni Mountains,

"e'oor"o-Dhmonds Incrc asinG In Value
-Rubies Guarded by Fever-Novei Way
or Gem Cutting In tho Urni Mounts aims.
An opal. found and cut as gem in this
country. was sold by a jeweler In this city the
other day for $500. 1t was obtaine ed from a
newly discovered mine In tho State OF Wash
ington. near tho Idaho line. At that place.
which has been called Gem City. the volcanic
rocks are honeycombed with cavities thnt
contain small nodues OF this precious variety
OF hydrated quartz. Many OF these are Of
great beauty and value.
Speaking OF this discovery OF American opals.
Mr.. George +. Kuna. tho famous expert in
gems employed by Tiffany 4 Co.. exhibited to
the reporter the great Hope opal. ono Of tho
most celebrated in the world. which was re-
Gently brought to this country. 1t formerly
belonged to Henry Philip Hope. tho Dutch
banker who owned tho finest collection OF
precious stones ever got together. He liqui-
dated tho national debt of Brazil and took his
pay in diamonds from that country. which
originally inspired him with his hobby.
Among tho well-known goms possessed by
him was tho Hope diamond. n blue-white
stone OF A carats, valued at 100000;
likewise tho largest existing pearl. drop
shaped. which weighed over three ounces. sur
mounted in the setting by coronet of dia-
monds. The opal referred to. though Of
Mexican origin. Is said to have been among
the ornaments Of n Persian shrine in tho
seventeenth century. 1t represents the sun.
with full face carved on It's surface. the rays
being supplied by the antique gold setting.
AS is very common with Mexican opals. 1t Is
badly flawed-in fact. so cracked that it would
probably fall to pieces II the setting were
removed. 1t is oval in shape and its longest
diameter is about an inch.
"A curious illustration OF the value OF su-
rerstitions." said Mr.. kunz. was afforded
the other day by u lady who brought set OF
opals here for the purpose OF selling them.
She felt obliged to part with them on account
OF Il series of misfortunes in her family which
she feared wcro attributable to the gems. so
VIGOROUSLY unlucky On examining them
found that they were merely limitations. A
few weeks ago had In my possession three
sea shells which had been transformed into
opal. Their original llmy material had been
dissolved out Of tho rock BY which they wore
inclosed. and the precious substance was do
posted by water in place Of the lime. retain
ward College bought the curiosity and pro-
sented 1t to that institution. Here is another
freak, equally bea "a fragment OF me
containing crystals of yellow Divine. cali
your attention to their color because the ter
name. some OF these celestia! gems. resem-
bling golden plums in the meteoric pudding.
and have been cut as preciouS,stones.
Diamonds are in greater demand to-day
peTe edH X the history Of the world
year the negotiations amounted to nearly
that are found to-day are obtained from mines
by The lie Beers WHICH
Only productVe deposits now those Of ii Brazil
having been practically worked out. When
ever new mi1e Is struck the company buys it
ton. and holds prices at what fsur it pieases.
In Tact, It has eornsred the market permanent
blue clay. which is carried up to the surface.
WasSid and h poss % over Sn hs % and y
The mines are not Observation-Disclosures. BUT they viii
S 1 ess IS tss Tsts
level which the work ings have reached thus
as Tx i Hs Ts Sns wsrh q S +
serve. is an intense lemon vel low, This, is the
it has been likened to a sunburst
Most reople SUPPOSE that diamonds are the
tnat me RUPEES are at present enormously
and diamond set together in . ring, Each
mond. though of the first water Is worth only
St,ooQI: whereas whereas the ruby is worth $4,000.
S45. 600. The best rubios. Of the real pireon
blood color. come from Burmah. but the pro-
duSi9 Pr th Rr Is SeFy small now British CON
eesson which gives eontro! Of The mines
many 81 ph ,a;r have been found in the
snaTas tho gem ' dcn Sas 5sve the whi HIP
he Ct the
with the miasmatc plague from which no
white man seems to escape. The remaining
n IN n nNyin
employed to do tho digging, and to prevent
them from stealing the finest stones is well nigh
is resorted to by tho thieves the least ingeni,
Gus being to swallow the rubies. and where
ARTICLES Of s 81; highly value
South African diamond mines the system en-
plloyed for The prevention OF theft is highly
tain term during which they are Imprisoned,
when not engaged ut their lnbors. In u com
pound pound. Every night each man is Obliged to
which Is carefully scare he'd before he puts It
on again the next morning. aud he receives n
Dismissal at the coss Of choir cant sySas tho 10
!aborers are subjected to- physical examine
white e1s aR Woad It. The RIVE h
the punishment OF diamond stealing as severe
ns for homicide. Nevertheless. the De Beers
it's output by robbery. and dealers In stolcn
spqrkers do,a largo business through the
"Rubies have been obtained up to tho pros
emit time from the oil! beds Of streams. having
been washed out OF tho rocks Originally by
tho water. It has been recently contemplated
to got them by mining from the limestone in
which they were formed. and this IL ono of tho
projects entertained BY the British company
In Burmah. Siam is producing most OF tho
TTGbies that are coming to market nowadays.
Emeralds. also are in greater demand than
over before Here Is one Of fifteen carats that
been discprGred lately at Vegetable Creek In
New s South WaIeSS They are yielding many
E Eyed fr9% the ancient deposits in the United
Tor more than three centuries. Thore the
gems are dug out of black limestone by print
tiye Methods. with pickaXe and blasting
Pearls. too arc worth more money to-day
than ever. notwithstanding the discovery OF
new fisheries n Eastern seas. on the west
coast OF Australia, In the Soooo Arch ipelago.
and and at Thursday Island. Unfortunately. when
fresh fishing grounds for pearls are come
across. they are apt TO be quickly worked out
by everlasting. Such was the case with the
rich beds In the Gull Of California. which have
RErS3 RE- some OF the finest pearls known.
It Ills; Is about ~ the sizs Of = pigeons egg The
are got from ordinary cinms ~, ths ap n pSaris
species known SCIENTIFICALLY as Venus n,eacen.
HAra n "A hnndful 81 IL