Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-03-27
SANTA N. Ms

goes about ten feet deeper, there finding
his purest gems. The Indians had curl.
GUS method of blasting turquois rock
Over the refractory mass they would
build hot fire and then dash upon il
water causing the rock to crack. Then
the stone hammers came into play, and
the ore was crushed into beads which
after being drilled we're strung and worn
as ornaments or charms.
Out of the many turquois claims in
New Mexico, about half dozen mines
are in active operation. The total out
put of turquois in the territory was $780,
600 in 1891, $4,000 in 1892, 100000 in
1893, and $250,0OO in 1894. These figures
are taken from official sources, but no
doubt underestimate the true value of
turq nois mined during and since 1890.
Why this is so, will appear from the fol-
lowing incident. Last year the owners
of one of the largest turquois mines in
the territory put in valuation of their
property of $3.50. The county commits
sioners, knowing that the mine had been
in constant operation considered the
valuation absurdly low, and set about an
investigation which resulted in raising
the valuation from $3.50 to $25,000, upon
which the owners chesrfully paid the levy.
The same mine sold in 1898 for $250000,
and according to the statement of form
er owner has paid handsomely since that
time. In 1895 one stone was taken out
that sold for $4,000. This stone is now
owned by New York jewelry house, that
also controls four of the best mines in
the territory.
Recent discoveries have been made,
demonstrating the existence of valuable
turquois deposits, notably in the Burro
m fountains near Silver Oity, about the
Hachitas, and in the Jarillas, as far south
as Las Cruces. As befe 90 stated the old
est and best known mines are located in
the southern part of Santa Fe county,
near the town of Cerrillos. Most of the
claims being worked iu this section, are
the old filled up mines of slavery days,
though several have been opened of late
on virgin ground.
The formation In which turquois is
found varies greatly. In the vicinity of
Santa Fe, the matrix is usually white
trachyte stone filled with bright crystals
of pyrites, which upon decomposition
from exposure turns rusty brown. In
some cases the matriX is red sandstone.
In the Burro mountains the formation is
rosy quartz, slender needles of which
penetrate the turquoise deposit, spelling
it for gem purposes. In the Hachitas
the matrix is red granite. 1t is diff.
cult to account for these vagaries in
existing in the case of no
other miparal known tn HGienCe The
turquois solution in the form of liquid
was undoubtedly, at some period, intil-
trated into the seams. of the rock, where
it gradually soldifed. This is proven by
the fact that whenever the veins are wide
enough the turquois ia found in uni
form pebbles with talcos surrounding.
The color of the gem varies as much
in the formation, azure blue being the
color most sought, and most likely 20
hold its color. The dark blue stones are
preferred in England, pale blue in the
United States commands the best price,
while in Paris pale pea green stones
are the most sought.
In Russia, Persia and the East Indies
there ia not much choice in the matter of
color. The price of these gems, that is
clear stones without q Haw arc nearly all
uniform the world over. For small
stones from SO cents to $2 each. Good
ring stones find ready sale from 1875 to
5000 each. Large stones of good quality
and color realize extravagant prices. A
perfect stone about the size of silver
quarter would bring $4,000 either in
European or American markets.