Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-04-16
The Iournlali1le
A National Gem.

The tourmaline. "the flower of tho
mineral Kingdom" has become the fad
1t is n distinctive American gem and
consequently, aside from its value ana
beauty. arouses the patriotic spirit and
appeals to the love of country" sentl.
ment. And fashion has declared In If,
favor. of all the precious stones n
possesses the one mysterious quality n,
! having two or more colors in the saino
crystal, and for this one reason 1t ysn
deserves its growing popularity, 1t has
the peculiar property OF polarizln.
light.
Despite the recent discoveries of fresh
deposits at Mount Mica. Me, which
yield large numbers (the greatest store,
yet known of exquisite specimens. il
is still comparatively rare. and thar
will enhance its value both commercial.
ly and as q social and fashionable I'm.
vorite
This Mount Mica is near the town n,
Paris. In the rock ribbed state OF sheen
lumber and fish, There. on the brow on
little hill, one of the spurs of tho
"streaked mountain" is one of the most
remarkable mineral deposits on tho
globe. From an area 30 feet square
there have been obtained nearly 40 yn.
rieties of minerals, some of them OF ex.
IRENE 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 hues
Incidentally it may be stated that
there Is n strong Inference that the
magnificent ruby in the Russian crown
is in all probability n tourmnline. and
so likewise may be the monster red gem
which hangs as q pendant to the Jade
necklace, formerly belonging to the
Chinese emperor. which Is now the
property of the French government,
having been captured at the taking O,
Picking In 1860. A magnificent group o,
pink tourmalines was given by the king
of Burma to Colonel Sykes while the
Inter was commissioner at his court.
Tourmalines are also found In 81.
IBERIA. In the Ural mountains. in Cey.
Ion and In Brazil. but none to 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 to inches In diameter
occur In fedspar veins in the noun
tains between San Diego and the Colo
RADIO desert. Some of the crystals are
red at one end and green at the OPP
posite, while others have green ex-
terror and red core. Blue and purple
varieties are occasionally found. Min
eralogists are unable to account for
this eccentricity of hues. and physicists
are equally puzzled by the strange elec-
trical properties of the tourmaline. II
Is natural magnet with positive
and negative pole of attraction and re.
pulsion.
The United States, aside from da.
monds. seems to be prominent in gem
production. The bulk of the worlds
supply of fine turquoises is now obtain
ed from New Mexico. where great num-
bers of large stones equal in quality to
the best of Persian origin are mined an.
nually. They even hold their color bet
ter. The finest garnets in the world are
also found here. In the vicinity of Mos.
cow, Ida. the volcanic rocks are found
honeycombet with cavities, which In
many instances contain precious opals.
The gem material is supposed to have
been deposited by water when the rocks
were hot. In Oregon some very beau
tiful ones are found in bed of volcanic
ashes. Large masses of cinders being
broken open reveal them. and one in 20
Is fire" or n noble" opal.
The garnets of New Mexico occur In
loose gravel. which is disntegratod
rock brought from a distance by tho
How OF streams. On the Navajo reser-
walton the Indians collect them from
ant hills and scorpion holes. the insects
and arachnids having brought them to
the surface in digging.
The only possible rival of the tour.
maline for the distinction of being call.
ed the national gem of America is the
precious stone hiddenite. This beauti'
full species Of crystal. which sells for
from $40 to 800 a carat, is obtained in
Alexandria county. N. c., the only place
In the world where it is found. Its dis
covery was accidental. some specimens
being disclosed when mining for emer'
aids. It's color is lustrous, transpar.
ent green, and. according to mieralo'
giStg. IL is n yarIpty af ap0dumana