The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1912-05-03
A NEW DISCOVERY.

have been stung by the mining bug.
and the whole country few miles
north of that place, on both sides of
the river, has been and is being staked
out The furor was created by the
discovery that what was supposed to
be worthless rock although tinctured
by radient colors. has distinctive
name and most attractive value. The
existence of this particular rock Is no
new find; the fact that it has a value
is the knowledge that recently filtered
through the community. The deposit
was cut and exposed during the grad
ing OF the branch railroad between
Oroviile and Pateros, and fragments
Cf the rock We're scattered over the
right fway for two years attracting
no attention. One day an old pros
pector and miner named Gilbert hap
pened along. Now there is nothing
in the shape of rock that prospector
overlooks. 1t is second nature with
him tC pick up and critically inspect
any geological fragment of unusual
shape. shade or color. His eye caught
the u, culiar tints of the rock blasted
out Ey the road graders, and appealed
to him. He felt there was something
in it, and he proceeded at once to stake
n claim. Through Mr.. Gilbert the
rock came to the attention of V. M.
Crause of the Seattle Gem company.
He pronounced it to be an exception
ally fine quality of mica hyacinth, a
stone worked up into jewelry and used
for decorative purposes, and at once
purchased an interest in Mr.. Gilberts
holdings. This mica hyacinth is
rare geological formation. and the
supply has heretofore come from for
eign countries. This word went forth
creating a lively futter among those
who were put next, and more careful
investigation was made. 1t was found
that the deposit is very wide extend
ing east some six miles from the Ok
anogan river. and is to be found on the
west side also. A large number of
claims have been located, and the rush
of lLCatOrS will continue until the en-
tire country in which it is remotely
possible to find traces OF this mica
hyacinth will be covered by location
stakes.
Little is known or can be learned
relative to this new and rare stone,
although the fact remains that if it
proves really to be what is claimed.
and there is any great quantity, 1t pos
seSSeS considerable commercial value
and is rare to be met with. What
makes the discovery of more impOr-
tance from the view point of future
operations, II 1t does become source
of revenue is that the deposit is in
close touch with the railroad soon to
be constructed, solving the problem of
transportation, and making it possible
to carry on mining and Shipping at a
minimum cost.
An encyclopedia at hand thus treats
of this stone briefly: ''IIyacinth, q
name given to the brilliantly colored
varieties of the gem called zircOn, al
so De fine red cinnamon-stone. or py-
rope; and sometimes to ferriginOuS
quartz of a blood red color which
from it's occurring abundantly in gyp-
sum at COmpostella, in Spain, Is
called hyacinth of Compostella."
"Cinnamon-stOnc, a precious stone,
of which the finer specimens are high
ly esteemed it is regarded as a vari-
ETY. of garnet. It's color varies from
hyacinth red to orange yellow, and
when pure 1t is transparent. 1t is
composed essentially of silica. alumina
and lime. 1t is found chiefly in Cey-
lon.'
"Pyrope, beautiful and much
priced gem often called carbuncle
and hyacinth by lapidaries. 1t is near
ly allied to garnet. 1t is composed
of silica, alumina magnisia, lime, and
the rrotoxides of iron, chrome and
manganese. 1t is always OF a deep
red color, and is transparent, or at
least translucent. 1t generally occurs
in ionndish grains but rarely in i'm
perfect cubical crystals 1t is found
chiefly in SaXony and Bohemia; also
at Elie, in Fife Scotland
And there you are. While the Okan-
ogan product does not cover TO the
very letter the description here given
by these erudite condensed state
menls regarding hyacinth. cinnamon
stone and pyrope, stones in the main
of 4 general character, pronounced to
be 10th scarce and valuable, yet in a
general way it does, and after eXamin-
ing samples following the reading OF
these descriptions any doubts that
might exist as to the importance OF
the lind would be removed. If the
new discovery is not exactly in class
with precious gems, it is rock form
alton of unusual beauty, and may yet
play 4 prominent part as an important
exporting product from this county,
and develop an industry giving en-
ployment to many people and yield
ing wealth to those interested in the
claims.
A sample of this new find in the
rougi was left at this Office by Mr.
Lund during his recent visit tC Oro-
ville and it is here for exhibition. 1t
carries a delicate shade of pink, or
rose, blending with green and black
In thin pieces the stone is translucent
1t is rather flint like in hardness, and
is susceptible to a perfect polish. Mr.
I.und has a piece that had been pol
ished The surface is of CLASSY
smoothness, and the coloring of deli
cate and striking beauty. 1t is far
handsomer than onyx and for the pur-
pose for which onyx is used would
far surpass that stone in appearance
What may be- the results of this
find from an industrial point, what
may come our OF 1t as a source OF
financial returns to the owners OF
claims. and those who may open tn;
deposits, is something for the future
| to determine 1t is certain that those