The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-02-26

these. EtuQradO bar. leu 10 the estimate
that 1t would yield some two thousand
ounces of sapphires 10 the acre; but only
a part Of these pay be of gem-quality.
The stones found embrace great rarie-
IS of light shades OF red, yellow, blue
and green. The latter color is quite
pronounced. being rather Il blne-green
than an emerald green. Nearly all of
them. when timely cut have II marvel
lous metallic lustre. very beautiful.
and strkingiy peculiar 10 these from
this locality. Much money has been
spent here in work. but ~ true red
rubies. or true blue sapphres have been
found the so-callcd ruDies found here
If Of any deeper color, are generally py-
rope garne:s.
THE FINEST TURQUOISES.
The finest turuuoises, ana richest In
color. have been found. for centuries. In
small veins In IL clay slate near Nisha-
pocr near Meshed, Persia; but these.
mines, long 50 prolific. have been rude
ly worked, and are now almost exhaust
ed Many turquoiscs reach the market
from Egypt: they are really obtained
from Mi. Sinai. This variety, although
generally dark blue when found. often
changes in II short time to a. milky
green Very lately. also turuuoises
have been announced IN New Soclth
Wales. Australia. bu. the yield thus
far has been triiling and of Il very info
rlor quality: New Mexico Is the prin-
cipal source of supply. near Santa Fe.
ANA also inv the Buno Mountains. Grant
county: the racks here are ycll3w anu
may quartzitc sandstone with perphy
dykes: the Sandstoncs are, probably Of
carboniferous age, but SO uplirtca and
mctamorphospd that their sedimentary
Character is obscurcl.
Nearly every mine so far discovered
was worked by the natives before the
advent of the S;paniards. The Spania,xls
seized upon the turquoise mines al Los
CerilloS when they conquered New Mex
lco. ana forced great numbers OF cap
TIVE Indians TO work them: but in 1850
a large section Of the mountain fell in
crushing a number OF miners This ac-
cident was The immediate cause of an
UPRISING OF me Pucblos. which led to The
expulsion of the Spaniards. The pup
BIO Indians procured the turquoise by
cracking the rock from The .!dry Of The
mine ny throwing water on the walls
ti ter tncS hau been heated by fires
putt against them. INhis process gene
rally injured the color. But since 1880
improved methods have been success.
tully used. Recent explorations have
disclosed old workings In all the mine;
IF New Mexico ana Arizona; fragment,
OF pottery, stone hammers. and similar
objects are found Oh the ground. ana
are aiscovered within the long hidden
chambers as also in the similar casr az
the Arabian turquoise mines near Sin,,
companies are now working mine;
near Los CerillcS, and the Buno Noun
Jams. New Mexico, and elsewhere in
Inc region. Much of the product I;
pale in color; but II great quantity az
.he turquoise OF robin-egg- blue, equal
~ me hncst Persian stones, are obtained
ana single piece sold for 81. 900 is re
a
10 Europe, where their excellence Is ac.
knowiedged: ana the total Amerirar
sales from 1890 TO the beginning of 1884
were not less than 100000. This has
proved the most profitable gem-minins
In the United States.
THE MOST PRODUCTIVE E,A,ER
AID MINES.
The most productive emerald m,ros
ahording the finest gems. are near
Ain.o. an Adean village. i'm the st,ic or
noHaca. =. ,. OF Columbia, about eighty
,, ,t, n, NORTHWEST CT Bcgota. These
mines lie In deep round valley ana
nave been worked fer many ccniu,.ic:
m,lore Inc advent of the Spaulards
heN are 'low the property OF the Gov
erhmeht, which rents them 10 81 com
l'ahF. 1t was emeralds from these
mines that the Spaniards brought from
feru' ana took to Spain. where they
were $ III within a short time TO E,a thor
lnhih' the mine itself is an eycaya-
ton about six hundred feet wide nj
me haSc of an abrupt cliff of hitunf-
nous limestone This company employs
I'VE or sin oversccrs. and three hIndrcl
I" Tour hundred native workmcn. who
are lodged and fed en- Tho nrnmisns
ana PAID twenty 10 forty cents a dav,
me work is done simply by tearing off
with crowhars fragments of ,hn mol,
from inc side of the mine. which is en-;
mo narrow terraces. like Il gIran:ic
staircase, ana throwing them into y
| u uSn at the bottom. When a certain
HuaWltN has been tumbied down. u
| neaNE rush of water from a reservoir
[ - SEM through breaking up ana carry
| !nE away all the light rock. ana dis.
| engaging the emerald crystals: tha,c
| helnE heavy, sink to tile bottom Of ,hn
! ",uires ard are caught by the rinier
| ms IS simply the operation Of s]uice
| Wen known To placer miners for gold
| me emeralus occur in cavities on,i
! among me loose black powder whiri,
| hlis many OF the Veins. The Sluico hoy
! q. are watched very carefully: but y.
| ELSEWHERE, Il large proportion OF ;hs
stones arc stolen and surrepiitiluely
solu by the workmen. All the emerald
saved are at once sent TO Paris 10 rc
cut. The product is worth ahpu, sl00 oNp
year The most recent discovery Of
emerald is ii the Emmavillr miis. II,
the northern par1 of New Suth Wales
The emeralis occur in granite rorl,
and are generally crystalliZed ont ne
implanted crystals. Although forty
thousand carlts Of these stones have
been found they are generally very pale