Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-06-30

What is said by the experts or the
United States geological survey TO be
the greatest gem mine In the world is
about to be worked in Montana, says 4
Washington dispatch to the New York
Sun 1t is located in Yogo gulch and
is about four miles long on the sur
face and descends to an unknown
depth. 1t is estimated that the entire
workable sapphire bearing rock will
approximate 100000 cubic yards. A
mining plant is now being erected
there which will quadruple the previ
Gus output and make Montana sapphire
mining an important factor in Amer
lean gem production
The stones obtained are not Of large
size. They range from ''culls," used
for watch Jewels and other mechanical
purposes, to gems averaging when cut
from half carat to two or three car
ats and rarely up to five or six carats.
As gems they are brilliant. free from
flaws and of good color. ranging from
light shades to the rich, deep blue of
oriental sapphires. The YogO crystals
have an advantage for mechanical
uses over East Indian stones In their
form, which Is largely short. prismatic
or rhombOhedral with fiat basal ter
limitations, and hence they need much
less cutting for such purposes as watch
jewels. The gems are sent to Amster-
dam for cutting and yield from two
fifths to one-half their weight in I'M
finished stones.
According to information received at
the offices of the survey. the southern
counties of California bid fair to rival
the Ural mountains in the production
Of tourmaline. beryl. topaz and other
precious stones which have been the
pride of that region for the last half
century
The turquoise mines of New Mexico
and Arizona have lately not been as
productive as formerly. says George
f. Kunz in report on the production
of precious stones in 1905. The tur-
suoise properties of California and Ne
vada have, however. been increasing
their output. Considerable quantities
of turquoise have been taken from the
mines in the desert region of San Ber-
nardinO county. Cal. Many of the
stones range from 30 to 700 carats in
much as 81, 800 each. The color is pale,
but 1t has gained favor. and large
quantities of the stones have been sold
In the form of beads for necklaces.
From time to time amethysts are dis
covered in North Carolina, especially
In the region of Rabun gap, Georgia.
ON the North Carolina border. No
quantity sufficient to warrant mining /
seems TO exist. Yet many of the stones
are incomparably beautiful, second in
deed to none found in foreign coun-
tries.
Never before in the history of the |
United States has there been such q |
iemand for diamonds as there was in |
1905. Large quantities We're imported, |
but the United States produced none. |
In 1903 1t produced diamonds to the
value of $50. In 1901 it had an output |
worth 500, In 1900 its production was |
vauled at $3.50 and in 1899 the country
boosted native diamonds to the value I
of $780, Diamonds have been discov |
cred In the United States in four diff |
ferent regions but their actual place of |
origin Is in every case unknown. All ]
that have been found were in loose |
and superficial deposits and all acct |
dentally. 1t Is not at all improbable. |
however, that some day the original |
sources of this queen of gems may be |
discovered.
The high price of diamonds has made |
the recent search for these precious |
stones In the United States and Cana |
da keener than ever before. A care
full watch for diamonds was kept dur |
ing the examination by the United
States geological survey of many sam
Piles Of gold and platinum sands at the
Lewis and Clark exposition in Port |
land, Ore. a lookout for diamonds /
has also been kept by a number of peo-
pie who have been dredging for gold |
on an extensive scale in the rivers of |
In neither case has any /
find been reported.
Experts OF the survey declare that |
the Iapidaries of the United States are
growing in skill and that no better |
lapidary work has ever been done in |
the United States than in the last two |
years.
The survey reports that the output |
of gems in the United States In 1908 |
was valued at 1926. $50. The sapphire |
mines led, their yield being valued at |
$12o, 900.
The value of precious stones import |
ed In 1905 was $34.99S.513 as compared |
with the imports of 1904, valued at |
<26. OS6,OOO The stones imported in |
1905 included GLACIERS diamonds worth |
$3.50, diamond dust valued at $780, |
072, rough or uncut diamonds worth |
SIC, 2S1. Ill, set diamonds worth $741. !
unset ones valued at S20.3I5,304 and |
other stones. not set, worth "a, Ia. 434. |
The importation of precious stones for |
the month of December, 1908. was val |
ued at $3.633.379. which is as much as I
the Importation of any entire year up |
to 1879.
MARYLAND'S NEW SENATOR
An Instance of william Pfnckney
Whyte's Proves n o Lawyer.
"a In Of