The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1900-04-05
AMERICAN DIAMONDS.
CHILDREN AT PLAY MAY DISCOVER
VALUABLE GEMS.

|
ment-L,cation of the Original Fields.
A problem OF great interest to geol-
ogists is the occurrence of diamonds
in the United States, and while it is
hardly possible that these precious
stones will ever,Re found in any one
locality in sucb abundance as in
South Africa, yet, according to au-
thorities who have given considerable
thought to the subjec', there is no
leason why they should not be DIS
covered from time to time IN certain
sections of the country.
Diamonds have been discovered
during the last few years in the neigh
bovhood of the great lakes, princi: ally
in the state OF Wisconsin, and the
first discovery recorded was at Eagle,
Waukesha county, in 1916. Since
that time II well-identi6ed dia-
monds, weighing from ,one-ha!f of a
carat to 81 IA csrats have been found
about the great lakes, and ther dis
covery has given rise to considerable
speculation and the formulating Of
theories which, if correct, not only
explain the presence Of the stones,
but also indicate. the possibility OF ad-
ditioral finds in the future.
The first diamond to be found il
the region of Waukesha was brought
to light in digging we'll. The stone
was gwen to the wife of the farmer
occupying the property, who subse-
quently sold it to Milwaukee jeweler
for 81. The latter submitted the
stone to a mineralogist for examina-
ton, and it was found to be dia-
mond of a paleiyellow color. 1t was
subsequently sold to Tiffany & Co.,
in whose collection it now reposes. A
later discovery of note was made on
Plum Creek, in Pierce county, where
some prospectqrs looking for gold
found in 1887, 1888 and 1889 a num-
Der OF diamonds varying from two
carats in wei 51t to microscope size.
Several Of these.are also in the Tiffany
collection, and are either yellowish or
white slightly :tinged with yellow, or
grayish green. Tie largest diamond
on record fron4 this section weighs
), 21 II carats and is Of pale yellow
color. It was found by farmer OF
Kohlsville, va #hingtou county, Wis,
while p!owind end is now. owned By
his ssiiaow. s.ons was examined
By Professor IH. Hobbs Of the uni
:, yersity of W |onsin and was de;
: | eoTl,o1 Inv hi Win seyerel scientific
d ]ou mails ask Sinfii;al reports:.-e--
n In al lition ID eeoGes found IN
Wisconsin, thepk ". also record of tht
e discovery of d Pnds in Michigan
4 and Ohio. The ichigan stone wa:
n found at Dowa FAC, Cass county, II
i the glacial drift. The Ohio stone
d viii h was dis covered at Milford,
# Clermont county, was of very nm
# qualify, and was cut as brilliant by
q its purchaser. It was found by twt
n little girls and weighed six carats
4 being OF the purest water. During
the last five years diamonds have beer
y discovered at the rate of about one
var, anil the geo .oglsts who are IN
% to .estel in the question believe tn /
j i people, particularly children, woulf
o be on the look out fos the stones
many more would be recorded.
" An examination Of the localltle
where diamonds have been found AM
the consider alton of the various geo
logical conditions have led to the con
clusion that the diamonds have aeel
q b ought to their present locations b,
IS the action of great glaciers in pas
n ages.
% The theory advanced is that the dia
,r monds in preglacial times were sepal
ated from the matrix, or GOVERN
q rock, and were deposited in valley
# near the source OF the ice movement
% According to the geological evidenc
9 there were two invasions OF the ice
and as tie g have been no diamond
found in the material transported
l. the first of these, it is Leiie> >ed tha
TO the material in which the diamond
n were embedded was not affected b
Y. the first, but was carried along by tn
IS second movement. To locate tn
b origin it is necessary to follow tn
Of probable paths of the transported ola
n monds backward, and it will be toun
le that they meet in common centre
" Labrador, east of James Bay. LII
v geological survey of Canada has IKE
le the centre OF the ice mantle ths
Or effected the glaciation of the grea
A. lakes also in this locality, and itseem
/. as if the two centres were IN proxlu
ity. According to Professor Hobb
Ito whom is due the collection OF muc
of the information ION this subject
Sc considerable original research and th
10 examination and study of the dis
'e mouds alrealy found, there are se'
n eral lines of investigation to be pu1
r. sued before the home of the damon
Of can be located with accuracy. {
s, curse the geological study Of th
IN country surrounding Hudson ba,
le ..u view to determining the mov'
s. ment of the ice, must be made. The
y, to the sou h and east of the gre'
az lakes are moraines somewhat slmllt
a to those on the west, and search fe
e, diamonds should be made in then
Sc particularly in the marginal moraine
to the south, as being places whel
the transported stones would be mo-
likely to be deposited. It is also
9 matter of importance to ascertal
r whether there are diamonds in tt
Up moraines OF Ohio, weste Il New Yor
es AMI western Pennsylvania, as in sue
ne al event it would prove that the fs
be Of distribution extended further
lie the east, and that its apex must
s. very near the centre Of Labrador new
as or ice summit.
<. With the growth of geological know