The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-12-16
Scientists Explore
Rich Gem Fields

Chicago, Dec l6 (By the Associated
Press)s "A ;opaz weighing five
pounds, remarkable not only for its
size but for it's clearness, is among
the specimens brought back to Chi,
cago by DR.. Oliver c. Harrington, Gu
rator of the department of geology
of Field Museum, who has just re-
rurnedsf from an expedition to Brazil.
The sexpedition travelled 1000 miles
Through the diamond, gold and pre-
cious stone fields of the South Amer
lean republic, covering more than 900
miles Through the mountains Of the
state Of Minas Gerais on mule-back.
The specimens obtained include
gold, almonds, aquamarines, beryls,
emerald and topazes, besides a num-
ber Off Minerals of the rare 'earths.
.AmoH ae specimens DR.. harrington
heH6 keAkals.se. tXQ minerals
hithef' Unknown to science.
The BIZ Ave pound topaz is one Of q
!;.rge number Of enormous .semi-pre-
cious stones obtained by the scientists,
hut in boint Of size is an infant COM
pared b d 26 pound topaz which they
saw j one Of the mines. The giant
stone Was valued at about $75 a
pound Cut up and polished first
6, ,ade topaz is worth from IS to $40
Il carat.
Diamond mines were visited in the
region Of Diamantina, 500 miles north
If Rio, in the center Of vast diamond
Bearing area. The stones can be sue
ccssfully mined only in the neighbor-
hood of water for washing the coarse
earth away. The diamonds are found
IN beds totally different from those in
South Africa, the matrix being a
quartzite composed of sands washed
from older lands.
The semi-precious setones in the
state Of Mfnas Gerais are found in
coarse GRANTEES or pegmatites SO de-
composed that the gems can be mined
with a shovel.
The expedition visited the Morro
Vclho gold mine, which is the deepest
mining shaft on earth. Its lowest lev,
q is 1000 feet below the surface. At
this great depth the temperature of
the rock is lit degrees Fahrenheit,
making it necessary to maintain an
elaborate refrigeration plant on the
surface to force cold air down to the
riners. The deeper the shaft goes,
however, the richer the ore found, 80
the additional cost Of mining is more
han Offset bS the returns.
Iron ore of the finest quality for
steel manufacture is so common in
this district, according to DR.. Earring
!on, that his party rode for day after
day over mountains, valleys and
plains osxnlid iron deposits. Manga
Lese, aluminium and other valuable
{ :es were Also found in abundance.
The Brazilians of the interior were
almost uniformly friendly, and will
ing to Sive every assistance to the
scientists - DR.. Harrington reported,
except in one town where he was
nearly rnossbed when rumor spread
mat he intsuded to buy a gold mine
which was,to be sold at auction. The
natives objected to a foreigner OBJ
tanning the mine and spent most Of
the night in q demonstration in front
of the bosse where he was staying,
shootingyeexpleding dynsmite ear
ridges, singing and shouting deris-
iNely.
Americas automobiles, typewriters,
saving machines and other mechani-
cal appliances were very common In
the interior, yhowever, and American
movies snjoys almost q monopoly, he
said. Even the remote villages have
their chfrslma theatres, where the
American screen favorites are shown.
Wild west HIfns were the most pop
Mar EtIAtt