The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-07
| SOME AMERICAN GEMS
MANY PRECIOUS STONES To BE
FOUND IN THIS COUNTRY.
Small Diamonds Picked Up Occasion
aI,y-Other stones More Common
-Fresh-Water Pearls.

II is not very widely known that the most
precious of all gems-the diamond-is found
at different places within the borders of
the United States. From a period dating
many years back it has been found along
the eastern slope of the Alleghenios, but
not in quantities TO pay for the trouble of
hunting for it. Now and then small dia-
monds are picked up in northern California
and southern Oregon, but ii has never
tempted the miner from his gold and silver
mines. few years ago two men repre-
sented that diamond weighing 100 carats
had been found in Arizona and said that
many more existed there but the whole
thing turned out to be story coined for
the purpose of making money from the cred
ulous. and the schemers made large sum
before the humbug was exploded.
The mines of New Mexico. Arizona, Ne
vada and Colorado produce turquoise in
large quantities. 1t runs through the
rocks in pretty blue veins and is quarried
out by miners. Mount Chalchihuitl, which
is twenty miles from Santa Fe. has been
found to be undermined with ancient work
ings showing that the early inhabitants of
the territory knew of the deposit and had
worked it. The walls of a certain cave
veins of turquoise two inches thick. and the
oddly of the thing is that they run right
through the gold-bearing quartz These
turquoise deposits are worked only by ma
tive Indians, who grind them into rude and
fantastic shapes and carry them to market
in their mouths. They are sold for song,
and arc eagerly purchased by tourists
through that part of the country.
SAPPHIRES AND EMERALDS.
The sapphire is sometimes found among
the gold sluices of Montana, and emeralds
are picked up in North Carolina. A small
sapphire will command a good price-one
of six carats brought at a gem sale not
long ago $500. The ruby Is the red sapphire
of market, and is highly priced. You will
remember that the topaz, yellow sap
phire, was the second stone in the breast
plate Of Aaron. The sapphire grounds Of
this country have never been developed to
any extent, and II is not known what they
are. capable OF yielding.
We go also TO North Carolina for emer-
aids. The emeralds that are found there
are fine and very valuable, but the emerald
corundum which comes from Manitoba is
the finest stone of its species. That emer-
aid hunters can be deceived is attested by
the story OF the man who thought he had
picked up a nine-ounce emerald in the
South. The value of this stone was be-
lieved to be so fabulous that 1t was carried
to New York. where II proved to be moth
ing but greenish quartz crystal. 1t was not
worth more than IS. and the visions of
wealth which the owner had had fed and
left him literally stranded in a city of
strangers.
The garnet, which is a pretty stone and
| somewhat popular. is found in considerable
quantities In about the same country that
produces the turquoise.
| The Indians who inhabit the Navajo res
ervations have an odd way of getting the
garnet. They collect them on ant hills and
near the dens of scorpions, as the ant and
| scorpion bring them to the surface when
| ever they find them obstructing their ex-
| cavations. The garnet is not very valua-
BILE, though it is classed among the gems
| North Carolina garnets sometimes weigh
| twenty pounds, and are cut into dishes and
| cups. Besides this, tons Of them are
crushed to make emery" and garnet
paper is sold for certain uses. A polished
| garnet Of good size makes a handsome pa.
per weight, and they are sought for thi:
purpose wherever they are to be found.
| GEMS OF MINOR VALUE.
New England produces the beryl In great
| quantities. The largest bsryls in the world
| are to be found in New Hampshire. Berry
! crystal has been found in blocks six fee
| In length and of that beautiful pale greer
| which makes the gem so much priced
| There Is another sort Of beryl called aqua
! marine which Is found also in New Eng
land. Gems OF this kind are generally
small and as blue as sapphires. The chrys
oberyl is found in Maine. but 1t Is no
transparent enough to be possessed of any
| great value.
Some Of the rivers In the United Statel
produce splendid specimens of pearls. TIL,
true pearl oyster is found in the Gulf o
California, where 1t is regularly sough
after, but Of late years some very fin
pearls have been found In the rivers o
Ohio and Wisconsin. The pearl is one o
the best known of our native gems, an,
has always been a favorite In some part
of Wisconsin rivers are constantly searche
for pearls, which are found in the shell
of fresh-water mollusks. Men, women an
children plunge into the stream and hun
industriously for the prizes, which are sen
to dealers in the East, where they are val
ued and purchased. Some very valuabl
ones have been found by the hunters, bu
they do not compare in value to those dis
covered in other parts of the world
In fact gemstones are found in this coun
try in great quantities. The great Yves
produces such as tiger-eye crocidolites, ae
ate, carnelian, satin spar and the like TIL
hills of Montana. Colorado and other West
ern States have not been worked for tn
wealth of gemstones known to be hidde
in their depths. Some day much of thi
treasure will be brought to light. as gol
was, and the market for gems will be ovel
| stocked with American ones.
FRESH-WATER PEARLS.
The fresh-water pearls of which / hav
spoken are, for the most part, found In
sort of mussel called "unios' These mu.
sells are large, and many a boy wadin
across a clear stream may have spurned
valuable pearl with his toe 1t is not di
ficult to break open these musses, an
when they are opened the pearl is found
If it contains one-to be hidden al one en-
of It, The pcar-shaped pearl is the mo:
valuable. but it has to be transparent
sell we'll | remember having found lars
number of mussel pearls which L considere
very valuable, though they were not tran
parent When they were sent to a dealer