Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-31
FINDS GEMS ON FARM:
MAY Be DIAMONDS
Richard F. PreusSer Believes
He Has Found Rich Deposit
in Prince Georges County.

Convinced, after TWO years OF in
vestigation, that he has finally discovered
a bed Of diamonds and other precious
gems on his farm in Prince Georges
county; Md. Richard F. Preusser, lock-
smith. of 712 18th street northwest, has
in his possession about a pint Of gems
which he claims rigid tests have re-
vealed to be genuine.
Because of the variety and roughness
of the stones, uncut and unpublished, Mr.
Preusser is not able to estimate their
actual value, but he says they are
worth about $4,000. These he has dis-
covered in a large quantity of cascalho
found on his farm. After bringing q
sample 10 his Washington home, a thor
ough search, he says, revealed varieties
OF diamonds, sapphires, garnets, chrys-
tolites and chrystobayl That there are
other beds on his farm is Mr.. Preusser' s
firm conviction and he is making ar
rangements - exanIine for other min
erals.
Two years ago Nj. Preusser discovered
a stone on his farm which, he says, two
experts told him vas a genuine fifteen
carat diamond valued at about So, GO
Since his discovery Mr.. Preusser has
thoroughly examined the stone himself
and has had other experts examine it
with the result that he now realizes he
was mistaken and that the stone is a
cleared crystallized feldspar called oil
gOclaSe.
Not Diamond, He Says.
This crystal has been described by
Prof. James Dana, who says that acids
refraction and took a very high lus,er-
ile toll
porter yesterday that he had tested the
gem with different kinds of acids and that
1t was not affected by them until three
days ago, when he tested 1t again with
hydrofiuoric acid for ten minutes. Wnere
the acid touched it destroyed the polish
and left numerous deep SCI atches. Then
again he tried its hardness with a piece
of rock crystal, which scratched it. This
fact convinced him that the gem was not
a real diamond.
Despite this disappointment. Mr.. Pre.s
ser says he is fully convinced that tn
stones now in his posse Ssion are genuine
as the acid tests which revea ed the flaw
in the other stone have failed to affect
those found recently.
Plenty of Gems in Soil.
Mr.. Preusser said that last spring he
began to prospect in another place on
his land. knowing that from the forms
of limonites scattered all over the
ground. the we'll Oxidized ground and the
formation Of the land that there must be
plenty of gems in the soil In every par
ticular, he said, 1t resembled the mines
where gems are found; it even showed
traces of volcanic action in the feldspar
crystal. He finally discovered the gem
cascalhO, called q conglomerate, and took
home with him, in pieces. about 800
pounds of the mineral. He carefully dis
solved the pieces, and as proof has about
a pint of gems in different forms and
sizes. He has picked out some of the
best diamonds, sapphires and garnets and
proposes to offer them for examination.
Mr. Preusser's farm contains nine and
one-haIf acres. and Is located several
miles from Landover station. The exact
location he will not tell, giving as his
reason the number Of curiosity seekers
who have trespassed upon the place since
the discoveries.