Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-11-26
NIsHAPuR TURQUOISE MINES.
Lazy Methods by Which the Stones Arc
Gotten Out-Jewels That Fade.

Gotten Out-Jewels That Fade.
The famous turquoise mines of Nish-
spur, in northern Persia, are believed
to be the only turquoise mines in the
world which have been worked extern
siyely 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 inhab 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
o vertical shaft some five yards in di-
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 a rickety
wooden wheel, which brought up the
debris from below in small sheepskin
bag holding no more than peck, per-
haps. This was received by third
man, who unlocked, emptied and re-
attached it. The other two men re-
moved their feet, and the bag went
down with a run some 40 feet, where
three other men were similarly en-
gagged on ledge in the shaft. The
mire itself is so or 80 feet from the
surface. The miners first descend by
means of a 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
mon were seated close together on a
ledge, breaking with small hammers
the fragments of rock as they were
brought up from below. When tur-
quoise was discovered it was placed on
ono side in it's rough state, encased in
rock, and sent to Meshed. Unfortu-
nately, though the mine is very pro-
ductive, 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. But,
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
and 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 at first, but the color in most
cases soon fades, or a green tinge is
developed, or spots appear on them.
Some of these white spots can only
be detected at first with q glass, and
then as a mere specll, but in time they
may expand and spread right across
the stone. The color of most faded
can be temporarily revived
by dampness. In Meshed no one would
dream of buying a turquoise of good
color without possessing it first for
some days, for it is the most treacher-
GUS of all precious stones. The tur-
quoises, as soon as they are cut in
Meshed, 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 a flaw for
a few shillings each. Turquoises are at
present far cheaper at Tifis and Con-
stantinople than at Meshed, and at those
towns one might perhaps find some of
good color which have been in stock for
Times.