Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-07-26
new MEXICO TURQUOIS
A Veteran ProspectOr Strikes Rich
Lead of Precious Stones.
He Exhibits Perfect Specimen Weigh
ing 100 Carats.
He Has Not Much to say About the
Locality, Hut He Does Aver That
the Mines Were Worked by An
Ancient People Who Used
stone Implements.
tFrom Sundays Denver News.

perfect turquo1s, tipping the scales
at IA carats, is not seen every day of
the year, much less is 1T customary to
meet with specimen of cerulean blue
weighing rs to 100 carats without flaw
When guest of the Albany hotel quietly
requested Joe Clark yesterday to place
two or three quarts of magnificent speci-
mems in the vault for safe-keeping, be
knew that somebody had made a great
find. He was not mistaken. The find
was made by George Simmon, @ veteran
prospector who has tramped thousands
of weary miles over the mountains. For
more than 20 years Simmons has been
wooing the tickle goddess, and at last
luck has smiled on him. The turquois
deposit which he has located certainly
produces fine specimens. The only
question is whether the mine will con.
tinue to yield as it yields near the sur
face.
81 accidentally learned of my over
sight mine of New Mexlco," remarked
the prospector last evening. III noticed
that the ground In the neighborhood was
scanned with blue, but the miners said it
was copper stain and l let the oppor-
tunlty pass for location of turquois
mine which has yielded fortunes within
the last five years. accidentally learned
of my oversight and in new district
where was working gold mine, came
across the same indications as had
aroused my inquiries in New Mexico. l
went to work, took ont few specimens,
got discouraged and quit awhile, but
started in again and today | believe |
have the finest turquois mine in America.
I'm mperfect veins are to be found in many
parts of the southwest, but nodules is
what the turquos miner wants, and
nodules it is that have"
The lucky prospector reached his hand
into his pocket and brought forth an un-
cut sample, which the stone.cntter told
him would produce perfect specimen,
weighing 100 carats. Seventeenth street
dealers say the perfect stones are worth
$40 to SIS carat The specimen owned
by Mr.. Simmon is about the size and
shape of filbert and appears seamless.
He has other specimens larger in size,
which he proposes to have tested while in
the city.
"The mines," said he, "were once
worked by an ancient people. leave 1T
to the archeologists to give the name of
the people that worked the mines, but one
thing is sure-they filled up the shafts
level with the ground before they left the
country. The original workers used stone
hammers, for have found the rude stone
implements in the shafts. They built
fires in the bottom of the shaft and cracked
the hard stone by throwing water upon it
after it became heated. There are plenty
of evidences of fire.
EXTENSIVE WORKINGS.
"The workings are very extensive. The
elevation of the country where the mine
is located is perhaps 4,50o feet, but am
not saying anything Of the locality, as I
do not care to induce others to prospect
in the region, have had the specimens
thoroughly tested and today had half a
dozen stones out in this city to learn their
true value"
The principal turquois mine of the
world is within few miles of Cerrillos,
N. M. The mine is owned by the Tiff
fanys of New York, and is closely guard
cd from prying eyes. The governor of
New Mexico, according to recent pub
lished reports, was refused admission to
The mine. The Persian turquois mines
are said to be approaching the point of
exhaustion, and the principal source of
supply is in New Mexico. Several tur-
quois deposits have been discovered in
this state, but the specimens are imper-
feet. dealer of Denver has expsnd-
Al AL H11o lo
lode, but his efforts have been fruitless.
The cut samples shown by Mr.. Simmon
were pronounced by experts yesterday
absolutely perfect in color and texture.
The location of the Lost mine is ques-
tion of great interest to dealers. Mr..
Simmon says he filed upon the land as
upon any mining claim, and has been
performing regular assessment work.