The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-04-22
COL NBIA
FURNISHES
Rare GEMS
Emerald Mines of That Coun-
try Are Rich as Are Those
of Ecuador and PERU

WASHINGTON April zz--NheIo
do they come from-those flashing
stone OF pure pe1ucid green that OF
ten form the central setting of beau
tvs choicest gems2 Diamonds form
but satellites then the rarest Of jew
els. a perfect emerald, flashes its hre
from the snowy throat of woman fair,
or lends its sheen to the 1ewel-en-
crusted crown Of royalty. Its birth IS
hidden In the mystery OF natures al
chemy, but Its beauty and charm
have been recognized from the very
dawn of history.
EmeraIds dashed on the shield of
Aaron; the Ptolomies of Egypt treas
ured them, and their lapidaries knew
the art of engraving on their hard
surfaces with systie symbols of their
ancient faith; the Theban tombs re-
vealed choice emeralds among their
long buried treasures, while Hercu-
laneum and Pompeii have added their
uuoto to the greed of modern e1cava-
tors Nero, that half-mad monster
who once ruled the destines Of Rome,
used an enormous ererald for mon
ocle; and in the f1lmy fabric OF the
gowns of Cleopatra emeralds shone IN
verdant lustre.
Most Valuable Gem.
Mount zabarah, in Upper Egypt, is
said to have been the source, of many
of these ancient gems. but centuries
have passed since these prolific mines
were exhausted and modern jewelers.
must now depend upon the Western
Hemisphere for their supply. In the
spoils I zarro sent to Spain, so goes
the story in the Spanish edition for
May of the Monthly Bulletin of the
Pan Am erfcan Union, were found the
first Gne specimens of American en-
erolds, and thus was revealed another
source of the manifold wealth of the
New World. Perhaps the most valu-
able single emerald found In modern
times is that one in that famous col
lection of gems owned by the Duke OF
Devonshfre. 1t Is said to be perfect
hexagonal crystal, weighing ounces
in length. 1t came from the mines OF
Colombia, and it is this South Amer
lean republic that furnishes the
greatest supply of fine emeraIds
known to the world today.
Not that Colombia is the only coun-
try that has emerald mines. Ecuador
and Peru have contributed their
share to the worlds supply, and in
the former country the city of Es-
meraldas Spanish for emeralds)
takes It's name from the precious
stones found In its vicinity. Among
the Aztec treasures of Mexico were
found emeraIds as fine as those of
the Peruvian Incas, and 1t is reported
that Cortez was offered 40, 600 ducats
for one of the gems he gathere from
the hoard of Montezuma. The Mex
lean gems were exquisitely cut, and
it is from this source that the mag
nfficent emeralds now forming part
of the royal collection of Spain were
supposed to have come. In certain
parts Of Siberia, India, Salisbury in
Austria. Australia, Norway. Brazil,
ireland, and in some areas Of the
United States limited quantities of
the precious stones are found, but the
gems of greatest beauty and value
are to be had from the Muzo and Cos
quex deposits near Bogota, the CAPT
tai of Colon bia.'
The Colombian Gems.
The Colombian gems exhibit to the
highest degree the qualities OF color,
brfIliancy, hawlessness, and size char
acteristIc of the best emeralds known, |
and the Muzo district seems at pres
emit to be the most prolific of all min
ing zones. The matrix in which they
are EMBEDDED overlies a great preci-
pice OF black Shale or slate. This
black rock contains but few stones.
They are found for the most part In
white calcite running in veins
this slate, some. being i'm bed
dede in the matrx and Others lying
in pockets These rocks dip in every
direction, evidently as the result of
repeated volcanis action, and the
strata are traversed by cracks or
small assures, which have been filled |
up by infiItration with silica, alumina,
lime, and magnesia, with a little
chrome and other minerals, including
prites. Under great heat and pres
sure these minerals in the assures or
veins crystallized in different forms
according to the various min
erals contained. Thus, it is supposed
have emera1ds been formed, for the
most beau tiful, of deep green color,
have been found in these veins, the
tint being due to the presence OF
chrome in sufficient quantities. All
Of the Colombo mines are situated
within a radius of 100 miles ofgBogo-
Ia, at attitudes between 1000 and
z 900 feet above sea level. 1t is es-
timated that the annual production is
not far from 81. 100000 in value. An
English syndicate has the exclusive
for mining these valuable
stones, under strict governmental
and the actual figures of
the annual output have not been re-
vealed in recent years.
There are two wage-earning