Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-05-29

BADGERS FIND RICH GEMS.
Deposit of Precious Stones Unearthed
by the Buay Animals.


by the Busy Animals.
The discovery of the ledge OF pre-
cious stones on Yogo creek, Fergus
County, Montana, was made by the
finding of true blue sal phires in the
earth thrown out by the bs dgers in dig
ling their holes. The LEDGE was traced
across the country for 4 distance of
several miles by means of these badger
holes. These animal, were numerous
in that section of the country. ant as
the limestone came very near the sur
face of the ground, the only place
where the badgers could dig holes deep
enough for their dens vas in the soft
yellow clay which filed the lead at the
surface. The gems are pronounced by
experts to be equal to the true blue
oriental sapphires, and command as
good If not better prices from the lead
ing jewelers. Of London, Paris and New
York. The stones are found at the sur
face of the ledge in soft. yellow clay.
When depth is attained on the vein IL Is
found to be hard clf.y or shale, the re-
suit of volcanic eruption and identical
In appearance with the diamond de-
posts of Kimberley, in South Africa.
True blue sapphires are found in In
dia in the glacial lyels, but never he
fore have they b ii found in The origi-
nal ma 5rix in which they were placed
by the volcano which created them.
The new gem fields are located about
100 miles northeast of Helena, on
tributary of the Judith River. in Fer
gus County. The geological survey
took note of the deposits in its late re-
port The first shipment of these stones
was a cigar box full. which was ship
per to a New York jeweler. who bought
them for $3.50. He pronounced them
equal in every respect to the true orien-
tai sapphires. Jewelry concerns IN
London have asked for all that can be
obtained. Offering prices ranging from
ST. TO as high as 500 per carat
There are two companies mining sap
phires. One, a London concern, has all
of its stones cut in London, while the
| American company has a plant in Hell
ena, where the stones are cut. The
American cut stones. with the charac-
teristic skill Of American workmen,
command a better price because of the
| superior fire and lustre due to the more
Skllful cutting The American COM
pany has in addition to its claims in
| Fergus County acquired large amount
of ground on Rock Greek, in Missoula
| County. from which there are washed
every month several thousand carats of
sapphires of NIL colors and tints, rang
| ing from Sreenish blue. pinks, straw
cOlors and whites.
| The Rock creek field also produces
among the sapphires number of ru-
! bies, some of them Of the true pigeon
| blood tint. which exceed many times
over the value Of the finest diamonds.
| These stones in MisSoula County are
found in the gravel and not in the
matriX lib Z the ones in Fergus County.
| They have evidently been washed by
| glacial action from some vein. the To-
! cality of VIII a las never been diScov-
cred. Tttse ofr-e olored >apph.es are
| found in nearly al of the placer mines
in Montana. but autll the Yogo fields
were discovered In lSa5 very few of the
true blue sapphireS were found. Many
OF these ou-colored stones as they are
called, are Of great beauty, the pinks
and straw colorS being. exceptionally
beautiful and while they have rot the
stamp OF fashion the finer ones are pur-
chased Mt high prices hy the lovers of
tne gems Eo,h OF these companies
are preparing To mine these stones on a
large scale Chicago Chronicle.