The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-11-21
NIsHAPUR TURQUOISE MINES.
Lazy Methods by Which tho Stones Are
Gotten Out-Jewels That Fade.

Gotten Out-Jewels That Fade.
The famous turquoise mines of Nish-
apur, in northern Persia, are believed
to be the only turquoise mines in the
world which have been worked extern
sively or which have produced the tur-
quoise of perfect shape and color. On
approaching the mines from Nisha-
pur, after entering the low hills and
gradually ascending, one arrives first
at the villages inhabited by the miners,
which are on undulating ground about
5000 feet above sea level. After an
other gradual ascent for about mile
by very good road the foot of Hill
about 1000 feet in height is reached.
All the mines are on the south face
OF this hill, and from the first to the
last the distance as the crow flies is
| not more than half mile. The Relish
mine, which is the only one worked
on large scale or with vigor, produces
| the greater part of the turquoises at
present sent to market. 1t is near the
top of one of the highest ridges, at
an altitude of about 5000 feet above
sea level. The entrance is followed
out cave, about IL yards across, with
vertical shaft some five yards in tii-
ameter. Two men were reclining at
| the mouth of this shaft with their
backs against the wall of the cave, and
| turning with their bare feet q rickety
wooden wheel, which brought up the
debris from below in small sheepslSin
bag holding no more than a peck, per-
haps. This was received by third
man, who unlocked, emptied and re-
attached il. The other two men re-
moved their feet, and the bag went
down with q run some 40 feet, where
three ether men were similarly en-
gagged on Il ledge in the shaft. The
miLe itself is so or 90 feet from the
surface. The miners first descend by
means of narrow diagonal tunnel,
| and then scramble down the rough
sides of the shaft.
| At the mouth of the cave, which is
on the precipitous hillside, half dozen
men were seated close together on a
| ledge, breaking with small hammers
the fragments of rock as they were
brought up from below. When a tur-
quoise was discovered it was placed on
one side in its rough state, encased in
rock, and sent to Meshed. Unfortu-
nately, though the mine is very pro-
ductiye, and the turquoises of good
shape, their color soon goes. Since the
| Abdur Rezai mine fell in it may be
said that the stones of perfect shape
and color are very rarely found. Bat,
though really good turquoises are rare,
there is abundance of imperfect and
bad stones. which are eagerly bought,
for all orientals prize them, and the
very poorest like to possess even green
apI spotted one set in a tin ring. 1t
is more than likely, however, that the
hill contains an abundance of good
stones. Some of these now found look
excellent Mt first, but the color in most
cases soon fades, or a green tinge is
developed, or spots appear OH them.
Some of these white spots can only
be detected at first with glass, and
then as n mere speck, but in time they
may expand and spread right across
| the stone. The color of most faded
turquoises can be temporarily revived
by dampness. In Meshed no one would
dream of buying q turquoise of good
color without possessing it first FOR
some days, for iffs-the most treacher-
Gus of all precious stones. The tur-
quoises, as soon as they are cut in
Mcshed, are nearly all sold at once
for export, and their price in the town
rises at least 1000 per cent. Some
years ago one could obtain in Meshcd
good turquoises of perfect shape, fine
color, fair size, and without flaw for
few shillings each. Turquoises are at
present far cheaper at Tifiis and Con-
stantinople than at Meshed, and at those
towns one might perhaps find some of
good color which have been in stock for
years.-London Times.