New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-11-17
GEMS UNDER RADIUM.

Those who have hesitated to accept the re-
markable stories recently current about the
production of precious stones by a new method
are likely to congratulate themselves on their
discretion. The work in question was con-
Quoted by n Frenchman, VI. Bordas. That it
has been wrongly interpreted, II not wrongly
reported, is evident from an extended account
which appears in lie Temps" and which was
prepared after a conversation with NJ. Bordas
by the writer, NJ. de Narigny.
The material of which certain class Of gems
-rubles, sapphires, amethysts and emeralds-
consists is cOrundum What NJ. BOrdas has eff
fected IS merely alteration in the color of
the specimens with which he experimental. the
| change being attributed to the action of radium
placed in close proximity to the stones. In this
manner, it is announced a white crystal was
made to assume yellow hue, sapphire was
turned from blue to green, and the tint of a
pale ruby deepened. 1t was noticed. moreover,
that If the exposure to radium was sufficiently
prolonged the color of ruby would change in
| succession to violet, blue. green and finally 10
yellow. NJ dc NaTigny shows that there Is
nothing in the transformations thus far OBJ
served which threatens 70 afford II supply Of
jewels produced ueXpensivcly. lie remarks
reassuringly bet us rid our minds Of the
Idea that NJ BOrdas has taken cheap stones
"corundums and topazes--and elevated them to
. tine dignity OF RelnS-sH ipuiI'S, thl'l'"io anu
"rubies. Quite the reverse.
Though no intention of decciving his hearers
can be imputed to NJ Bordas, the report Of his
recent experiments to the French Academy of
| Sciences was unfortunate i'm particular
1t was entitled a Contribution to the Syn
thesis of Precious Stones" By "synthesis" the
! chemist means the putting together OF certain
/ elements for the manufacture Of substance
/ having entirely different qualities. molecule
| of grain alcohol for instance contains one atom
! Of oxygen. two of carbon and six Of hydrogen
/ If man could persuade these ingredients 10
unite in the proper proportions and undergo
! the transformation which nature alone is able
! to bring about he would call the product syn
! thetic" alcohol. NJ. Bordas il will be observed,
makes no pretence of having effected a combina-
| ton of materials for the production of some
thing unlike the original elements. In each in
stance according to his own statements, he be
! gan with corundum and ended with corundum.
The only change he made was one in color. He
| has apparently not thrown any light on the syn
! thesis of gems.
1t has been supposed that the characteristic
hups of the ruby sapphire amethyst and topaz
were due to the presence of metallic dyes in
/ diminutive quantities NJ Bordas dissents from
/ the accepted theory. He infers from his ex-
pcriments that the differences represent differ
ences in the degree to which the stones have
| been acted upon in the earth by substances pos
sessing the properties Of radium. All gems Of
the corundum class, he holds, were originally
red Those which by circumstances were well
shielded from the influence Of radioactive min
| erals retained their color. The amethyst sap
phire and emerald indicate successive altera-
tons according to NJ. Bordas, while the topaz
might be regarded the ultimate product Of
| the magic agency.
Though there is enough in this ingenious
hypothesis TO invite examination by persons
who make a study of natures processes the
practical Importance OF the work on which it is
based is evidently small. The utmost which a
ieweller could hope to do with the aid OF
radium apparently is TO alter slightly the tint
of a gen. but if NJ. de Earlgny may be be-
lieved an attempt TO do would be attended
with uncertainty 10 the result. Where there
is a chance that a precious stone may be dam
aged, instead OF being improved, the wiscst pol
icy would seem to be TO let it alone.