Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-01-30
Turquos Mining in New Mexico and Other Parts
OF The West
No JEWELS LACKING EXCEPT CONSISTENCY
Something Of the Rare, Rich Kunzie, Discovered in California
During 1903

Every jewel, except perhaps consis-
tency. is on the roll OF the country's
precious stones that the United States
geological! survey calls each year.
There is no telling but the exception
mentioned may be put there one day
too, for new names are made as fast as
new stones are found and the list
grows longer year by year. me chiel
gem discovery Of 1903 in this country
was named kunzite by Or. Charles
Baskerville, an appropriate designa-
ton as every one will feel who reads
the annual report on the precious
stones industry, written by George
+. Kunz, for the volume OF Mineral
Resources published by the geological
survey.
The most interesting feature Of Mr..
Kunz's preliminary reviews OF the
Industry for 1903 is the emphasis
laid on the hopefulness of California as
a field for gem discoveries. Pala, in
San Diego county, is the recognized
locality for the remarkable new varl-
ETY. called kunzite. II is a beautiful
~lllac-colored spodumene. Crystals Of
great size, beauty, and perfection
have been obtained. 1t has been cut
into very beautiful gems for jeweirs,
and bids fair to become a popular
stone. Certain unusual physical
properties, which il possess, make il
especially interesting also "a the
scientist.
New discoveries and developments
of yery fine rubellite and other tour
malines have also been made at Pala
and likewise near Coahuila, in River
side county. Topaz, both white and
pale blue, has been identified for the
first time in the state Of California,
Ii was found at Coahuila in distinct
and beautiful crystals the dimensions
of the largest of them being three
quarters of an inch by | inch. Mag
nificent ~spessartite g%arnets were %
tanned zeal Ramona, in San Diego
county. C~hrysoprase was also exten'
siyely mined during the early part Of
the year in the TuIare county local
ity. The massive green vesuvianite
from Siskiyou county. which SC
resembles Jade that 1t was first mis-
taken for that stone, has been furthel
analysed and examined and the nam
california; bestowed upon 1t. A sec
ond locality for it was found in Tular'
county. The deposits OF colore'
tourmaline at Mesa Grande were fur
Their developed during the year.
outside Of California both prospect
ing and development work have bee
carried on in a few scattered districts
TURQUOISE has been mined at severa
places in New Mexico. Arizona, NJ
vada and in California and man
gems Of great beauty have been q
tanned. The sapphire mines of MOI
tana were worked BY three iifferen
companies, two developing the I'm
blue gems at Yogo. in Fergus count
and the other the multicolored or VI
rigated stones at Rockcreek ! Grant
county. Much Of the material from 2
three localities, when not fine enong
for gems. found q ready sale Tor wafc
Jewels. principally among Europea
manufacturers. The old beryl oea
ity at Grafton, N. H. was reopehe
and some development was attemp
cd. very little was done with Y
tournmaIines In Maine, although soni
prospecting took place az seyeral !
calities in that state. In North Car
lima prospecting for berry, amethys
and emerald matrix was continued.
The facts and theory as I the 9
cnrance Of diamonds IN Indiana We
presented III an able paper by