The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-13
DIAMONDS IN AMERICA.
Occasional Specimens Found About
the Great Lakes.
New York Evening Post.


A problem OF great interest to biologists
is the occurrence of diamonds in the
United States, and while it is hardly pos
sible that these precious stones will ever
be found in any one locality in such abund-
ance as in South Africa, yet, according
to authorities who have given considerable
thought to the subject, there is no reason
why they should not be discovered from
time to time in certain sections of the
country.
Diamonds have been discovered during
the last few years in the neighborhood of
the great lakes, principally in the State
of Wisconsin, and the first discovery re-
corded was at Eagle, Waukesha county,
in 1876. Since that time seventeen we'll
identified diamonds weighing from one-haIf
of a carat to twenty-one and a quarter
carats have been found about the great
lakes, and their discovery has given rise
to considerable speculation and the formu-
lating of theories which, if correct, not
only explain the presence of the stones,
but also indicate the possibility of addi-
tional finds in the future.
The first diamond to be found in the re-
gion near Waukesha was brought to light
in digging a well. The stone was given
to the wife of the farmer occupying the
property. who subsequently sold it to a
Milwaukee jeweler for 81. The latter SUBJ
mitted the stone to a mineralogist for ex-
animation, and it was found to be a dia-
mond of pale yellow color. 1t was SUBJ
sequently sold to Tiffany & Co., in
whose collection 1T now reposes. A later
discovery of note was made on Plum
pectors looking for gold found in 1887, 1888,
and 1889 number of diamonds varying
from two carats in weight to microscopic
size. Several of these are also in the Tiff
fanny collection. and are either yellowish
or white slightly tinged with yellow. or
grayish green The largest diamond on
record from this section weighs twenty-one
and quarter carats and is Of a pale
yellow color. 1t found by a farmer
of Kohlsville, Washington county, Wiscon-
sin, while blowing, and it is now owned by
his widow. The stone was examined by
Prof. w. III. Hobbs, of the University of
Wisconsin, and was described by him in
several scientific journals and geological
reports.
In addition to the stones found in Wis
consin, there is also record of the discovery
of diamonds in Michigan and Ohio The
Michigan stone was found at Dowagiac,
Cass county, in the glacial drift. The Ohio
stone, which was discovered at Milford,
Clermont county, was of very fine quality,
and was cut a brilliant by it's purchaser.
1t was found by two little girls, and
weighed six carats, being of the purest
water. During the last five years diamonds
have been discovered at the rate Of about
one year, and the biologists who are
interested in the question believe that IL
people, particularly children, would be on
the lookout for the stones, many more
finds would be recorded.
An examination of the localities where
diamonds have been found and the con-
sideration of the various geological condi-
tons have led TO the conclusion that the
diamonds have been brought to their pres
ent locations by the action of great gla-
ciers in past ages. In all save one instance
the finds have been made on the moraines
of later ice invasion, and in that case it
was in the bed of a creek, in close proxim-
ity to glacial deposits. This fact. showing
that the occurrence of diamonds in these
localities was the result of ice action, has
led the biologists to study the movement
of the ice sheet and the great glaciers so
as to discover the original source of the
diamond-bearing material The stones al
ready found have been located on the mar
ginal moranes OF the great ice invasion,
and apparently have been brought from
some locality in the wilderness of Canada,
where as yet sufficient work of a geological
nature has not been done to prove the as
sumption. However. from such examina-
tons as have already been made, there is
every indication that such Is the case, and
the wide distribution would seem to show
that they come from a common source,
where there was considerable supply.
The theory advanced is that the diamonds
in preglacial times We're separated from
the matrix, or covering rock, and were de-
posted in valleys near the source of the
ice movement. According to the geological
evidence there were two invasions of the
ice, and as there have been no diamonds
found in the material transported in the
first of these, ii Is believed that the ma
terial in which the diamonds were embed
o. W. not a ted hvy h0 first harf xxyac
carried along by the second movement. To
locate the origin 1t is necessary to follow
the probable paths Of the transported dia-
mondS backward, and IL will be found that
they meet in a common center in Labrador
east of James bay. The geological survey
of Canada has fixed the center of the ice
mantle that effected the glaciation of the
great lakes also from this locality. and ii
seems as IL the two centers were in prox-
unity. According to Professor Hobbs Ito
whom is due the collection of much of the ]
information on this subject. considerable
original research and the examination and
study OF the diamonds already found. there
are several lines of investigation to be pur-
sued before the home of the diamonds can
be located with accuracy. OF course, the
geological study of the country surround
ing Hudson bay, with a view to determin-
ing the movement of the ice. must be made
Then TO the south and east OF the great
lakes are moraines somewhat similar TO
those on the west, and a search for dia-
monds should be made in them, particular
ly In the marginal moraines TO the south,
as being places where the transported
stones would be most likely TO be depos-
tied. IL IS also matter of Importance to
ascertain whether there are diamonds in
the moraines of Ohio, western New York
and western Pennsylvania. as in such an
event Ii would prove that the fan of dis
tribution extended further to the east and
that it's apex must be very near the center
of the Labrador neve. or ice summit
With the growth Of geological knowledge
and the increase In the data obtained by
the discovery of new specimens or on field
expeditions In northern Canada. there will
be an additional amount of interest lent 10
this subject, and with a view to stimulating
persons dwelling in the districts concerned
particularly children in their play about
brooks and with their pebbles. to use their
eyes In order 10 make new and valuable
discoveries. statement has been prepared
for circulation in which the present condi-
ton of our knowledge in regard TO the lake
diamonds and the manner OF distinsuishinar