The San Francisco call., 1896-03-10
VALUE OF CHRYSOPRASE,
The Announcement Of Its Exist
ence in Tulare Attracts
Attention.
Jewellers in London and the East Want
the Gems if Enough of Them
Can Be Found.

Some time since there appeared in The
CALL an announcement that chrysoprase
had been discovered in Tulare County and
that the house of Tiffany of New York
had announced its intention of securing all
that could be had of the gem quality.
This discovery was telegraphed East and
since then mum Der of prominent jewelers.
in Chicago, New York, Boston, and agents
for London jewelers. have written to the
Mining Bureau in this City stating that
they are willing to purchase all that can
be produced.
"The trouble" said II. s. Burden, of the
Mining Bureau, sis that it is not found in
sufficient quantity. jewelers. would gladly
use it but will not take it if furnished only
in small pieces. There is in one OF the
cases here splendid specimen received
from NJ. Braverman of. Visalia. 1t is OF
beautiful dark green color and takes high
polish. II such can be obtained in guam
tity sufficient for the trade it will be very
valuable"
Mr.. burdens attention was drawn to the
fact that Professor KunZ of New York,
well known mineralogist, had, when
shown the dispatch that had been sent
East, declared that the chrysoprase was
of little value, and he said:
cry in this State was made about three
years ago. He has been here since then;
has discussed the matter, and has given
the opinion that it is Of value
g. P Wilcomb, curator of the park
museum, who discovered the ledge which
| is now being worked for chrysoprase said: !:
"Im astonished that Professor Kunz
| ton as mineralogist that is Of the best,
and he has also reputation of speaking
| of minerals as his whim or as his interest
moves him. About three years ago, while
| few miles out Of Visalia, discovered
what turned out to be chrysoprase, but 1t
was not as fine as some that has since been
discovered in the immediate vicinity, as,
| for instance, this, which is pure gem, "
| and the speaker produced a small box con-
| tanning polished gem the size and shape
of half OF a pumpkin seed. 1t is of pure
apple green, almost translucent and has
| but one slight defect, fine mllk-whlte
streak on the underneath side.
'"rhis," continued the speaker, 'ls as
| fine a specimen as can be found any
where and is valuable because OF It's rarlty.
Mr.. Braverman is working In the vicinity
| of the place where / made my discovery,
| and it is not unlikely that he will make
some valuable finds. This stone is found
| only in pockets and not in very large
| quantities. If it should be found in the
| county of Tulare in as great quantity as
it is in Siberia it will prove OF great value. :.
! Manager Shreve of Shreve Il Co. said
that there is not great demand in this
| City for chrysoprase, FOR the reason that
the supply is limited, but was OF the
| opinion that if California can produce it
in quantity there will no doubt be de-
mand for it.
| In Russia there is a great demand for
chrysoprase, because it is believed that the
wearer OF piece of this gem will never
meet with sudden death. The Russians
attach as much Importance to this as the
Chinese do to jade, or nephrite, which is
said to be of great value in renal diseases.