The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-17
The I ournaline
A National Gem

The tourmaline. the flower % the
mineral kingdom" has become the fad.
II is a distinctive American gem and
consequently. aside from its value and
beauty. arouses the patriotic spirit and
appeals to the love OF country" seuti-
ment. And fashion has declared in its
favor. OF all the precious stones IL
possesses the one mysterious quality OF
having two or more colors in the same
crystal and for this one reason IL well
deserves its growing popularity. II has
the peculiar property of polarizing
light.
Despite the recent discoveries Of fresh
deposits az Mount Mica, Ne. which
yield large numbers tthe greatest stores
yet known Of exquisite specimens. IL
IS stin comparatively rare. and that
vii. enhance its value both commercial
ly and as = social and fashionable ia
vorite.
This Mount Mica Is near the town Of
Paris in the rock ribbed state OF sheep,
lumber and fish. There, on the brow ~
q little HILL one % the spurs OF the
''streaked mountain" is one OF the most
remarkable mineral deposits on the
globe. From an area 80 feet square
there have been obtained nearly 80 va
rieties of minerals, some Of them OF ex-
treme beauty and rarity. This spot was
discovered as long ago as 1920 by two
students. Elijah l.. Hamlin and Ezekiel
Jones, while hunting for geological
specimens. Subsequent mining by blasts
discovered many cavities which were
literal treasure boxes. being lined with
beautiful crystals OF rainbow hucs.
Incidentally il may be stated that
there is q strong inference that the
magnificent ruby in the Russian crown
is in all probability a tourmallne. AID
so likewise may be the monster red gem
which hangs as a pendant to the Jade
necklace, formerly belonging 90 the
Chinese emperor. which IS now the
property of the French government.
having been captured al the taking 81
Picking In 1860. a magnificent group 81
pink toUrmalines was given by the king
Of Burma 10 Colonel Sykes while the
latter was commissioner at his court
TouTmalincs are also found IN ST.
IBERIA. in the Ural mountains. IN Cey-
Ion and in Brazil. but none % compare
with the American crystals which have
been mined in Canada. Massachusetts,.
Connecticut New Hampshire and
slightly in some Of the northeast coun.
ties Of New York and in California
black crystals 10 s inches in diameter
occur in feldspar veins in the noun
tains between san Diego and the Colo
RADIO desert Some Of the crystals are
red at one end ana green at the op-
posite. while others have "A green cx-
terror and red core. Blue and purple
varieties are occasionally found. Min
eralogists are unable to account for
l.. .-F-.rs.
are equally puzzled by the strange cleo
trical properties OF the tourmaline II
is a natural magnet. with a positive
and negative pole OF attraction and re-
pulsion.
The United states. aside from dia-
monds. seems 10 be prominent in gem
production The bulk of the worlds
supply OF fine turquoises is now obtnin-
ed from New Mexico. where great num-
bers Of large stones equal in quality 10
the best ~ Persian origin are mined an
nuaily. They even hold their color bet
ter. The unost garuets in the world arc
also found here. In the vicinity ~ Mos
COW. Ida the volcanic rocks are found
honeycomhed with cavities. which ia
many instances contain precious opals.
The gem material is supposed 20 have
been deposited By water when the rocks
were hot In oregon some very beau
tiful ones are found iu a bed ~ volcanic
ashes. Large masses OF cinderg being
broken open reveal them. and ono In 20
is a Ore" or q noble opal
Tho Earnets Of New Mexico occur IN
loose gravel. which is dlglntegrsted
rock brought from distance by tho
Gow Of streams on the Navajo rerer-
walton the Indians collect them from
ant hills and scorpion holes the insects
and arachuids having brought them %
the surface IN digging
The only possible rival ~ TIRE tour
maine FOR the distinction ~ being call
"a the national gem ~ America ls thu
precious stone hl8Genite. This hraufi-
ful species - crystal. which cells far
from so 20 500 a carat. t. obtained in
Alexandra county -. g. the only place
IN the world whore IL 81 found. ita dis
-overy was accidental. aarne specimens
being disclosed when mining for srnpr-
aids. It's color la n Igsfroua. franErar-
.ut green. and. according - mierslo-
lists. 10 Is q variety ~ arodumens.