The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-07-21
DIAMONDS AND
OTHER GEMS MINED
IN UNITED STATES
Precious Stones Are Widely Distributed
and of Various Kinds-Aggregate
Value of the Output Is
Not Large.

Gems and precious stones were pro
duced in the United States in 1912 to tht
value Of S3l9,722, according to Douglas
B. Sterrett of the United States geo
| logical survey. The kinds of precious
stones found in the United States are
many, ranging from diamonds of fine
quality to low-grade stones such as
agates, but as is seen from the totaI
value of the output there are no really
large operations.
The principal gem mineral mined in
the United States during 1912 was Mon,
tana sapphire of which there was a
| large output for use both as gems and
in mechanical applications. The greater
part of the gem sapphires came from
| the mines in Fergus county, where they
occur in a rock matrix. The majority
of these stones have the true sapphire
| blue color. The bulk of the sapphire
! for mechanical use came from the placer
| deposits in Granite and Deer Lodge
counties and consists of vari-colored
stones.
Fine opals from Nevada.
The development of the opal deposits
Of Humboldt county, Nevada, was at
tended with much success, and a guam
tity of magnificent gem material was
obtained. The opal is of an unusual
type, consisting of dark, translucent
mineral with variety OF rich colors.
The deposits promise to supply a gem
equal if not superior in beauty to the
opal from Australia.
Prospecting and mining at the emerald
mine in North Carolina were attended
with only partial success. Two pockets
or deposits of emerald were removed dur
ing the year; other developments con-
sisted mainly Of exploratory work, which
has continued into 1918.
The tourmaline output of southern
California was small but some msgnifi-
cent specimen crystals were obtained.
Especially fine gem crystals Of kunzite
were found and brought good prices.
The production of turqoise was very
small compared with some previous
years. Beautiful amethyst was found in
Warren county, North Carolina, and
some fine gems have been cut from sam
Pile crystals. A few fine specimens Of
golden beryl were obtained from pros
poets in Alexander county, North Caro-
lima. Beautiful gems were cut from
some of these. The production Of agate
and associated varieties OF chalcedony
was again large in several western
states.
Diamond Mines in Arkansas.
No great advances are reported in dia-
mond mining in Arkansas during 1912.
Several dozen diamonds were found
and several diamond washing plants
were constructed for operation in 1918.
1t has been practically impossible TO
determine the quantity and value Of the
diamonds found in the Arkansas field
since the first discovery in August, 1905.
Most of the stones are still held by the
mining companies and few have been
sold. 1t is estimated from the figures
furnished the survey and from reports
in the press and those furnished by pri-
vate persons that about | 400 diamonds
weighing nearly $50 carats have been
found from August 1906, through De-
cember, 1912 The total estimated value
placed on this output in these reports
amounts to Sl2,l0S.
Mr.. Sterrett's report is a very inter
esting account of the various kinds Of
gems found in the United States.