The San Francisco call., 1896-07-06
RICH IN CHRYSOPRASE,
Professor, Kunz Says That the
Tulare Discovery Is
Valuable.
This Expsrt Mineralogist Denies That
He Mnimized the Importance
of the Find.

Some time ago there was published in
The CALL an account of the discovery OF
chrysoprase in Visalia, and the fact that
the find was valuable one in view of its
scarcity. On the following day there was
published a dispatch from New York
which set forth that Professor George f.
Kunz, one of the best known mineralo-
gists of the age had declared that the find
was of no value.
A few days ago G. P. Wilcomb. the
curator of Golden Gate Park museum. re-
ceived letter from NJ. Braverman of VII
saIia, who owns the ground in which the
eems were found. In this the writer says
that he received communication from
Professor Kunz, who informed him that
there must have been some mistake in the
dispatch.
He says that he did not have any talk
with any one on the subject. and conse-
quently could not have said what was cred
tied to him; that he further drew atten-
ton on the subject IN his book, 1.-The Pre-
cious Stones of the United States" What
he has published is brief and is in the
following words: There are specimens of
carysoprase found near Visalia by Nj.
Braverman. They are perfect gems"
Accompanying this letter to Mr.. Will
comb was clipping from a recent issue of
the Daily Delta, published in VisalIa, rela-
tive to the district from which the gems
have been obtained. In this article the
writer says:
The chrysoprase mines are located nine
miles northeast of Visalia. When specimens
were first brought here the discoverer thoughi
he had found indications of zinc but MIR
Braverman had the specimens tested and was
the first to make known the existence of The
beautiful stone in this vicinity The first
specimens were found on the western slope OF
the small detached clump OF hills near the old
nf hca "a a..
mems were found on the eastern slope
Tulare County is the only portion of the
United States in which 1t has been discovered
and at the mine the priced gem was found in
thin layers in siliciied serpentine rock which
is hard and difficult to work The veins OF
chrysoprase are generally from half an inch
TO two inches thick.
The result of two weeks work was onlv
eight or ten ounces of the gem material. Most
OF what was dug out was pitted or contained
flaws and the shade OF most of it was a very
difficulty of getting suitable stone that m axes
it valuable.
The writer then describes the finding OF
some semi-opals, and adds: 1.-The locality
is an interesting one to scientists. The
entire hill shows the existence of chal.
cedony. Proper investigation may de-
velop something of value in this remark
able group of hills nesting at the base OF
the Sierras. Owing to the warm weather
and the exposed condition of the diggings
work at the chrysoprase mines has been
discontinued, but will De resumed in the
fall by Professor Smith, who has recently
been conducting it.
"Tulare County" said Mr. WiIcomb, ''is
a remarkable country-one that is full o.
interest for the mineralogist, and as the
surface OF the hills has been only ex.
amined there is no telling what will be
discovered when search is made below the
surface. ! am of the opinion that it i.
much richer than people have any idea."