Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-02
JEWELS OF OUR OWN.
MAY BE MANY MILLIONS OF AMERICAN
 PRECIOUS STONES.

We May Have a South African Diamond
 Field at Our Doors-Fare Gems Have
 Been Mined For Years In This Country.
 but the Work Is to Re Enlarged.
 Tho next great mining industry in this country will be for precious stones instead of gold, silver or iron orc if the prognos- tications of several large diamond mcr- chants and mineraloeicdl professors arc fulfilled The census bulletin giving the statistics of the precious stones found in this country opened the eyes of a number of millionaire dealers in valuable gems, and after consulting with learned profess ors in our leading colleges they satisfied themselves that there wero unknown pos abilities in the mines of the western, southern and even eastern states. Experts were immediately engaged to examine the rich metallic fields of the Appalachian mountains, the most favorable portions of tho Rocky mountains and the diamond districts of California.
 So many wildcat stories have been re- ported and published about finding pre- cious stones in different parts of tho coun- try that it has been a difficult matter to sift tho genuine accounts from tho fcti tious It was for the purpose of finding out tho real status of the industry and It's possibilities that trustworthy agents were sent exploring every part of the country, and their reports can bo relied upon as not containing any exaggeration of the truth. Diamond merchants of the great American cities arc not "castle builders" and they generally strike rock bottom before they invest their millions in any business, but ci tba 15ch hel khaf the diamond fields of South Africa were giving out the leading dealers in precious stones have been on the lookout for new mines that would supply the world with valuable gems. Some looked to South America as the future source of these stones, and even today the rocky ranges of the Andes are being examined and sounded by experts. But consensus of opinion indicates that great faith is placed in the unexplored regions of this country. Parts of the south, fin particular, have re- vealed unexpected treasures of valuable gems. /
 One of the leading dealers in precious stones who is interested in the present movement to develop the industry of min ing for American gems consented to give the following facts out in an interview:
 Americans, IS a rule, arc very fond of | there are more in this country according to the population than anywhere in the world. The importation of diamonds, rubies, sapphires and other gems has con sequently been Q very lucrative business for many years. The valuo of these stones in the country today, mostly imported, should roughly estimate to be not less than $500, GOO, 900. We havo so long de- pended upon other countries to supply ms with precious minerals that little attention has been given to tho home mines Then miners here have been wrapped up in their explorations for gold, silver, iron, coal, oil and such products that they have not had time to think of other things. But the promise of a future shortening of the supply of all the leading gems has made dealers look around for other sources.
 Another thing that attracted our at tention was the wonderful supply of rare minerals found in the Appalachian system of mountains. Not only gold, but genuine sapphires and scores of other stones have been found in those mountains. Al the Corundum hill over 100 beautiful sap phires have been discovered accidentally while mining for other products These stones have sold from $50 to S100 and up- ward In the same state, in Alexandria county, beautiful specimens of the emerald have been found both the aquamarine and yellow beryl. There are now several emerald and hiddenite mines worked in that place, but only on a small scale and chiefly to supply institutions with rough specimens Nevertheless from $10. 900 to SEQ, GOO worth of these stones have been sold from these mines in the past few years. Splendid garnets and few dia monds have also been excavated in these North Carolina mineral fields, and after an exhaustive examination of the ground the conclusion has been reached that be- fore long startling disclosures of precious stones will be made in tho Appalachian mountains. We may yet have South African diamond field at our door.
 .O.hcr parts of tho south have also been found to contain precious stones True beryls and garnets of considerable value have been located in Virginia, and there are several well defined districts where small specimens of diamonds have been found in Georgia.
 Tn the west and southwest the mineral fields are even more extensive. California diamond mines are tho largest and so far the richest in this country. Some fine specimens have been brought to us to cut, and others are constantly being brought in by prospectors and mine owners to test. Many stories have been circulated about diamond fields and mines in California, and adventurers have gono there expecting to pick them up as they did gold 10 years ago. Their disappointment spread coun- ter reports, and most people concluded that diamonds in California were ficti tious. The fact is that mining for dia monds must bo conducted on scientific principles and with plenty of capital. We do not expect to find diamonds lying around loose waiting to be picked up Even in tho richest diamond fields of South Africa they have to work hard for tho precious stones. More recently dia- monds have been found in Wisconsin