Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-25

BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.
NEW YORK, October %, 1907.
Mr.. George F. Kunz of Tiffany's, who
is the highest authority on precious stones
In this country. and perhaps in any other
country, has just returned from a visit
to Murfreesboro. Pike county, Ark, to
examine the spot where some diamonds
were found not long ago. He says that
they are the real thing, and that the
geological conditions are almost precisely
those which occur in the neighborhood
of the kimberley diamond mines, South
Africa.
This is the first time diamonds have
ever been found in their natural matrix
on the American continent, and 1 consider
1t very important said Mr.. Kunz THE
soil and surroundings are similar to those
In South Africa. The spot where they
were found is, beyond question, the era
ter of an extinct volcano, and it is filled
with blue earth similar to that of Kim
berley. 1t will take further investigation
to show whether there is enough to make
1t pay to work the deposit and whether
the cost of working will permit of
within few months, and If they can be
decided in the affirmative 1t Is one of the
best things I have ever struck
while most of the diamonds have been
picked up on the surface of the igneous
area, few have been found among con-
centrates derived from washing the de-
composed peridotite, which much resem-
b:es that of Kimberley, and at least one
diamond was found embedded in the de-
composed peridot!te itself. The evidence
seems conclusive that the crystals are
derived from the peridotite, and If so this
Is the first occurrence of diamonds in
place on either the North or South Amer
lean continents.
Diamonds have been found loose In
glacial deposits in about thirty places in
Michigan, Wisconsin,, Indiana, Ohio and
other states, but never before in natural
conditions. This discovery in Arkansas
was originally made by a farmer named
John Huddlestone. Because the ground
was green he thought there might be
copper under it. and while prospecting
iround found one crystal and" later two
others Since then fifteen or twenty of
the natives have picked up diamonds.
They first sent them to a jeweler in Little
Rock, who pronounced them genuine, and
then they brought them up here to me.
suggested an investigation by a pro-
fessional expert and recommended Mr..
Henry s. Worthington. well-known
=
went down to Murfreesboro with him. 1t
IS a little village of few hundred in
habitants situated In Pike county in the
southern part of the state near the Louis
ana border. almost directly north of New
Orleans. Near the village Is volcanic
neck of thirty or forty acres similar to
those which occur frequently in South
Africa, and it is filled with blue clay sim
lar to that at Kimberley About 40
diamonds have been picked up. there to
hi date of fh1A,, hoiv h
exceptionally pure and free from all tints
of color. Others are of a rich cinnamon
brown and pure lemon color, and num-
her are very dark, almost black. The
carats, and is of an absolutely pure pei
lucid white. Another stone weighs six
and a quarter carats and several weigh
five, four and three carats. The whole
lot, lao stones, will average about one
carat EACH