New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-27
Precious STONES FOUND IN AMERICA.
E-ror,, The Washington Post.


In gpeakin~ of the occurrence Of precious stones
in this country Mr.. kunz said: Although nearly
all known varieties OF precious stones are found in
the United States there has until recently been lit
tie effort made TO search for them on an extensive
and systematic scale the indications usually not
promising suiheient return LOT any great outlay
OF capital. But there has lately been an advance
IN e 'sS a carra on in only two States there
mined during the last year the following precious
Carolina. turquoise in New-Mexico, sapphires in
Montana. and opals in Washington Idaho and Ore
g onS oil ., tbs gems secured by the various
methods of mining are either sent to the large
where they found sent to other localities TO
"Diamonds are found scattered over the country.
but UP to date never in commercially paying guam
southern base of the Alleghanes from Virginia TO
Georgia and along the western base of the Cascade
fornla There have also been unconhrmed reports
Of scattered gems found in other localities, and
within year two considerable excitement was
aroused by the reported occurrence in Central Ken
lucky OF mineral beds closely resembling the da-
was afterward found that there were important diff
ferences between this deposit and the Kimberley
clay, the most vital OF which was that the Ken
lucky strip bore no diamonds 49,. ......,,,..
Sapphire IS found chiefly among the crystalline
rocks along the base of the Appalachian Mountains
from Chester. Mass. TO Southern Georgia: Inc
largest corundum crystal ever found, which was
five times larger than any other known crystal
is now in the collection Of Amherst College 1t SUI
fered somewhat in the disastrous fire of 1892
products Of the cSnntTy I found in ssye1a
Some is also obtained in Fresno County, Cal
During the last two years turquoise has been
Turquoise Company and the Azure Turquoise Com
pany; few minor attempts by others having been
engaged in mining six miles from Los Cerros. \.
NJ. reopenng some OF the mines orlglnaLy
equal in color to the finest Persian material Its
stability in retaining color Is equally great not
tmranoise which was so extensively placed the
market about the time "heh the rers'ah i"ne'
''Stones have been found at these new localities
weighing up to sixty carats each, one OF which was
the first time in the last half century TO match
a perfect turquoise necklace. $1,000
''The Azure turquoise mines are In Grant County.
New-Mexico The material is OF rather robins
egg blue: that is. with faint greenish tinge. The
locality but II is claimed by the owners OF the
mine that they are not subject to change OF color
stable gem: Even the finest Persian stones are
liable to change Occasionally w tbs scarcely 1s any any
turquoise coming In contact with acid exhaiations
from the skin or with fsty acids or aikaes IN
warned TO remove the rings while washing their
hands Recent also indicate that s saT
ncat,es has probebly exceeded s0Oo oo and for
1897 ,l7S.OOO, and greater amount for 1898 is
expected as Quantities OF this gem from al, an
first time This gem has given the most substantial
evidence OF gem mining in the United States: ,,o
same region as the turquoise one OF their pecu-
iiarities is that the most OF them ready mined
for the prospectors who find them dug out around
the ant hills and scorpion holes They are collected
by the Indians and soldiers and sold 10 the Indian
traders They are the superiors in some respects To
the Cape rubes" that found In mining for
diamonds In South Africa Some OF the exception
aiiy fine ones have brought $50 or $780, though fine
one-carat stones seldom bring over S. The garnet
output from this region amounts to about $1,000 In
cut stones annually.
"Opais and amethysts are the two other precious
stones OF the greatest importance In this country.
The new opal beds In Oregon. where 10000 worth
OF the gems reported TO have been obtained In
1892 promise. II properly worked. 10 be one Of the
most important " our gam deposits from q fnan-
clal point OF view"