The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1904-03-04
PRECIOUS STONES INDUSTRY.
New Discoveries and Developments
by the GeoIogI cni Sur,c,
During 1908.

Every jewel, except, perhaps, consls
teLCy Is on the roll OF the cOuntrys pre-
rious stones that the United States geo.
logical survey calls each year There
ls no telling but the exception mentioned
may be put there some day too, for new
names are made az fast as new stones
are found, and the list grows longer year
by year, The chief gem discovery OF
1903 in this country was named kunzite
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
+, Kunz for the volume OF Mineral RE
sources published by the geological sur
tey.
The most interesting feature Of Mir
kunz's preliminary review OF the indus
try for 1903 is the emphasis laid on the
hopcfulness of California US field for
gem discoveries. Pala, In San Diego
county, is the recognized LOCALITY for the
remarkable new variety called kun
litc. 1t is a beautiful ilac-colorcd
spodumcue. Crystals Of great size,
beauty aud perfection have been OBJ
tanned. It has been cut into very beat
tiful gems for jcwelry, and bids fair to
become Il popular stone. Certain uLusu-
al physical properties, which 1t possess
cs, make II especially interesting also
to the scientist
New discoveries and developments Of
very fine rub"llite and other tourma-
lines have also been made at Pala and
likewise near Coahula, in Riverside
county. Topaz. both white and pale
blue, has been identified for the first
time in the state Of California. II was
,ound n Coahuila in distinct and beau.
tiiul crystals the dimensions OF the
largest Of them being threc-quarters Of
an inch hy one inch Magnificent spcs-
sartitc garUcts were obtained near RAJ
mona, In San Diego county Chrysoprase
was also extensively mined during the
carly part Of the year In the Tularc coun-
~ locality The massive green vesu-
vianite from SIsEiyUu county, which so
resembles jade that /, was first mistaken
for that stone, has been further an
alyzed aud examined and the name cal
ifornite bestowed upon IT, A second 70
cslily for 1t was found IN Tularc county.
The deposits OF colorrd tourmalinc at
Mesa Grande were further developed
during the year.
Outside Of California. both prospect
Ing and development work have been
carried on In 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.
rhc sapphire mines Of Montana were
worked by three different companies.
two developing the hne blue gems at
YoEo in Fergus county, and the other
the muti-coOrcd or variegdtCd stones
Of Rucl Creek in Granite county Much
Of the material from all three localities,
ghon not fine enough for gems found
ready sale for watch Jewels. prlnci-
pally among European manufacturers.
The old beryl locality at Grafton, n. H.,
was reoprucd 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.