Mohave County miner., 1901-04-13
Badgers Find Rich Gems.

The discovery of the ledge of prec-
ious stones on Yogo creek, Fergus
county, Montana, was made by the
finding of true blue sapphires in the
earth thrown out by the badgers in the
digging of their holes. The ledge was
traced across the country for dis
lance of several miles by means of
these badger holes. These animals
we're numerous in that section of the
country, and, as the limestone came
very near the surface of the ground,
the only place where the badgers could
dig holes deep enough for their dens
was in the soft yellow clay which filled
the lead at the surface. The gems are
pronounced by experts to be equal to
the true blue oriental sapphires, aud
command as good if not better prices
from the leading jewellers of London,
Paris and New York. The stones are
found at the surface of the ledge in
soft, yellow clay. When depth is at
tanned on the vein it is found to be
hard clay or shile, the result of vol
camc eruption aud identical in ap.
pearance with the diamond deposits of
Kim berly, in South Africa.
True blue sapphires are found in
India in the glacial graveIs, but never
before have they been found in the
original matrix in which they we're
placed by the volcano which created
them.
The new gem fields are located about
/ 100 miles northeast Of Helena, on a
tributary of the Judith river, in Fer
gus county. The geological survey
took note of the deposit ia its late re.
port. The first shipments of these
stones was a cigar box full, which was
shipped to a New York jeweler, who
bought them for 3,75DS. He pronounced
them equal in every respect to the
oriental sapphires. Jewelry concerns
in London have asked for all that can
be obtained, offering prices ranging
from GO to as high as 1908 per karat.
There are two companies mining sap
/ phires. One London concern, has all
of its stones cut in London, while the
American company has plant ia
Helena, where the stones are cut. The
/ American cut stones, with the charac
teristic skill of American workmen
command better price, because OF
the superior fire aud lustre due to the
more skillful cutting. The American
company has in addition TO its claim:
in Fergus county acquired a large
amount of ground on Rock creek, Mis-
sonia county, from which there are
washed every month several thousand
carats of sapphires of all colors and
tints, ranging from greenish blue
pinks, straw colors aud whites.
The Rock creek field also produce:
among the sapphires a mum Der of ru
bies, some of them of the true pigeon
blood tint, which exceed many time,
over the value of the finest diamonds
Those stones in Missoula county ar,
found in the gravel aud not in tn,
matrix like the one in Fergus county
They have evidently been washed b!
the glacial action from some vein, tn,
locality of which has never been dis
covered These of-colored sapphire
are found in nearly all the placer mine
in Montana, but until the Yogo field
we're discovered in 1895 very few of tn,
true blue sapphires were found. Many
take these of colored stones, as tbel
are Of great beauty, the pinks AND
straw colors being exceptionally beau
tiful, and, while they have not tn,
stamp of fashion the finer ones ar,
purchased at high prices by the lover
of fine gems. Both of these companie
pre- preparing to mine their stones OF
large scale.-Phenix Gazette.