The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-09-10
GINS OF THE PACIFIC COAST.
LEADING FEATURE or THE LEWIS
AND CLARK EXPOSITION.


r,,t-Ilock Crystal That Rivals JaDan's
Fine New stones for Ornam entail Work
ma century after the historic and mem
..sble expedition Of the fearless explorers
ia and Clark the impenetrable wilder
~. which they traversed and made known
!. now a network OF railways and roads,
s.t,od with towns, cities and homes, a
Zion in which the inhabitants are probably
~ higher standard than in any other Sec
zion Of the country, or at least are not edr-
passed. .u,..
,he varied products OF the North Pacific
s,ates-lumber, grain. minerals and manu-
s.ct,res-g grouped in the exposition which
commemorate the triumphs due to the fear
..s Americans who first visited the region
N. products OF the mines are not the least
innortant. The Palace Of Mines has been q
.,rprise to every one visiting the land that
,as once the West. But there Ia now no
wore West. To 60 westward means to 60
N the East. Once more human progress
s.ens to be starting upon second revolu-
,,on of the worlds civilization, as the Jesup
.Inorations would seem to indicate. unless
nsded it started upon the Pacific coast Of
America. and 1t Is even now well upon its
second migration.
II would require q volume to give even
a general view Of the exhibit or indeed Of
me mineral resources alone. This article will
therefore be confined to the central feature
AZ the Mines building, the collection Of pre-
oious. semi precious and gem stones Of the
pacific Coast and adjacent States, for which
the author was appointed honorary special
AGENT to prepare the collection through
Chiefs OF Mines DR.. David T. Day and J. F.
Bstchelder.
Tho exhibit. which was prepared and
loaned by Messrs. Tiffany 4 Co., Is contained
AT least the moro precious portion Of it
In AZ almost invulnerable safe Of manganese
stsel, and the remainder Is in large glass
case The collection comprises O represen-
taton Of all tho more remarkable gem
minerals from the entire Pacific Coast re-
zion and from many points Of the interior
Northwest, together with some from An-
,ons and Utah.
Among the most valuable gem material
shown are beautiful blue sapphires from
Togo Gulch, Fergus county, Mont. These
present striking contrast to the varied
oolors, red, yellow, brown, blue. green and
white, OF those found in the placer wash
Inss near Phillpsburg, Granite county.
Mont. These latter are all obtained
BY sluicing, whereas In Fergus county
sapphire is mined in a solid igneous rock.
Montana is also represented by some fine
and remarkable examples of amethyst and
OF smoky quartz, sometimes curiously
mingled and the latter filed with inclusions
OF black tourmalne. These are very inter
'sstng varieties, found q few years ago in
the Little Pipestone district, in Jefferson
county.
From the Pacific Coast proper the most
nortbery exhibit is that Of the peculiar
large crystals Of garnet from Fort Wrangell,
Alaska These garrets are distributed
through gray mica schist,, like plums in a
pudding, and although beautiful as cabinet
specimens have little or no value as precious
cams. From Prince Of Wales Island are
shown magnificent large crystals Of dark
green epidote, wonderful for their perfec-
ton as minerals, but not Of gem value;
they were found by accident in mining for
copper. OF especial interest are specimens
Of aboriginal celts. hammers, and knives
made Of green jade. found in graves in
hla6ka, OCe large HldlS5 VI BUCK plSCS BLOWS
bow the natives cut of enough Ct this pre-
cious mineral to form their Implements for
hunting, for war or for the camp. Lieut..
StoIey succeeded some years ago In finding
this substance In place as vein material at
Jaoe Mountain. Thus was disproved the
anthropologist, who spent lifetime in dis
c,lssing the history and use of this every
where priced aboriginal material and in
attempting to prove that jade existed only
In two places in Asia, hence that all the
material, whether found In ancient Roman
America, must have been brought by migra-
ton from Asia. Oregon Is represented by
various specimens Of agate. Chalcedony
(aapphirine) from Kern county, Cal. Is
also shown, and likewise charming green
ehrysoprase from Visalia, Tulare county,
a., where the finest examples Of this ma
teral found on the American continent have
been obtained in some quantity.
W much interest Is the compact green
veeuvianite from Yreka, Siskiyou county,
Cal., stone with some future as an
ornamental material, being almost as tough
and as beautiful in color as the best jade.
Another elegant green mineral is utahlite.
found In the Floyd mining district, In Clay
Canon. 1t is rich golden green stone,
dlghtly transluc ent, that seems capable Of
use as an ornamental material and has
some use IN quaint Jewery.
1t Is striking circumstance that where
me West and East meet--in japan and in
Caliiornia-should be found such masses
transparent rock crystal, from which
can be cut those wonderful balls which the
collectors Of the world have always obtained
With such delight from Japan. 1t was
quite surprise some years ago, in work.
ing gold mine at Mokelumne Hill, Gala
veras county, CaJ., when great masses
o. this mineral were found, that cut, as
shown in the case. rock crystal balls meas
y vas believed that the Japanese only
could work quartz crystals in this man
nert but the exhibitors, Messrs. Tiffany d
70, cut these in their own establishment,
rom this American material, and no finer
examples Of such balls have ever been pro-
duced.
Southern California is fast becoming
known as one Of the most remarkable gem
eg1ons in the world, rivaling the long
Seorated treasure ground OF the Ural
saountains. San Diego county, with its
ssonderful yield OF gems, was hence more
luly represented than any other part OF the
coast, notably in the splendid tourma-
anes from Mesa Grande and Pala-rcd
snd green and bicolored crystals tina
.Wlgh several pounds and wonderful gems
.nit weigh up to 30 carats each-red, gneen,
;elnw and sometimes single gems showing
"p or three distinct colors.
me rema kable new gem mineral, kunzite,
Transparent lilac variety Of spodumene,
discovered within the last two or three