The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1904-04-01
PRECIOUS STONES INDUSTRY
Few Discoveries and Developments
By the Geological Survey
Daring 1908.

Every jewel. except. perhaps. consis'
tency, is on the roll of the country's pre-
cious stones that the United States geo.
logical survey calls each year. There
is NO telling but the exception mentioned
may be put there some day too. for new
names are made as fast as new stonea
are found, and the list grows longer year
by year. The chief gem discovery Of
1903 In this country was named kunzttt
by Charles Baskerville, an appropriate
designation, as every one will feel who
reads the annual report on the precious
stones industry written by Mr.. George
F. Kunz for the volume Of Mineral Re
sources published by the geological sur.
vey.
The most interesting feature OF Mr..
!Kunz's preliminary review of the indus
try for 1903 is the emphasis laid on the
hopefulness of California as a field TO.
gem discoveries. Pala, in San Diego
county, is the recognized locality for the
remarkable new variety called kun
cite. 1t is a beautiful lilac-colored
spodumene. Crystals of great size
beauty and perfection have been OBJ
tanned. 1t has been cut into very beau
tiful gems for jewelry. and bids fair tc
become a popular stone. Certain unusu-
III physical properties. which 1t possess
es, make 1t especially interesting also
to the scientist.
New discoveries and developments OF
very fine rubellite and other tourma-
lines have also been made at Pala and
likewise near Coahuila, in Riverside
county. Topaz, both white and pale
blue, has been identified for the nrst
time in the state Of California. 1t was
found at Coahuila in distinct and beau
tiful crystals. the dimensions OF the
largest of them being three-quarters OF
IN inch by one inch Magnificent spea-
sartite garnets were obtained near Ra-
mona, in San Diego county. Chrysoprase
was also extensively mined during the
early part of the year in the Tulare coun-
ty locality. The massive green vesu-
vianite from Siskiyou county. which sc
resembles jade that it was first mistaken
for that stone. has been further an
alyzed and examined and the name cal
ifornite bestowed upon it. A second lc-
cality for It was found In Tulare county.
The deposits of colored tourmaline at
Mesa Grande were further developed
during the year.
Outside of California, both prospect
ing and development work have been
carried on in q few scattered districts
Turquoise has been mined at several
places In New Mexico. Arizona. Ne
vada, and In California. and many gems
Of great beauty have been obtained.
The sapphire mines Of Montana were
worked by three different companies.
two developing the fine blue gems at
Yogo, in Fergus county. and the other
the multi-colored or variegated stones
at Rock Creek In Granite county. Much
Of the material from all three localities,
when not fine enough for gems, found
. ready sale fer watch jewels, princt
pally among European manufacturers
The old beryl locality at Grafton. N. H..
was reopened and some development
was attempted. Very little was done
with the tourmalines in Maine, although
some prospecting took place At several
localities In that state. In North Caro-
lima, prospecting for beryl. amethyst and
emerald matrix was continued.