Year: 1878

Until within very recent date expert
mental chemists have found it impossible
toreproduce precious stones equal in every
respect to the natural ones, compounded
OF the same elements and not to be dis
tinguished from them either in point of
hardness, brilliancy or color. AT length,
according to an article in the Popular
Science Monthly, the thing has been done
in France by Messrs. Fell and Frenzy,
ana speculation is at loss to know where
it will stop. The dream of the old al
chemists was the transmutation of metals.
They believed that gold could be produc-
ed artifically, and in the quest for it
Charlatans found fine field for extract
ing large sums of money from credulous
dupes. The old alchemists were sincere
in their belief, and toiled over the cru
chile for years, but always to be baffied
in the end. They passed by the diamond,
the ruby and other precious stones, and
yet i'll the production of these-natlre's
most valuable treasures-lay the only
field that was open to them. Gold is not
compound, as they surmised it to be !;
neither is the diamond. The first is a
simple metal. The second pure carbon.
But sapphire and all its varieties-the
ruby, the emerald and the topaz-are
born of the clay of the field. Chemistry
is able now to tell us how they were
made in the bowels of the earth centuries
upon centuries ago, and how it is possible
that there may be conditions still existing
where they are even now in process of
formation. Chemistry now steps in and
shows quicker way. An account has
just been made public of recent dscov-
cries, resulting in the production of prec-
ious stones. The process is thus illustrat-
ed by analogy: 'If we dissolve in hot
water as much alum as can be dissolved
therein, and suspend in the fluid, while
allowing it to cool, the wire framework
of basket, rosette, crown, or any other
open device, and if these wires are wrap
ped in worsted, the skeleton frame will
be found next morning covered with
large transparent crystals"


Very many if not all the precious
stones of commerce are formed i'll this
way in natures Laboratory, but with this
difference-the liquefaction of the earths
OF which they are composed is produced
by intense volcanic heat instead of by hot
water, as in the case of the crystalization
of alum into new forms. The diamond,
the cornelian, sapphire and its kindred
gems, the ruby and topaz--in short all
this class of precious stones, are the pro-
ducts of earths liquefied by heat and ciys-
talized while cooling slowly. They take
their special colors from the chrome, Co
bait, iron, &c, that combine with them in
the process of crystalization. By taking
pure alumina, combined with mineral
substances to give the appropriate color,
and subjecting the composition for long
period to intense heat and allowing it to
cool slowly, NJ. Fell, French manufact-
urer and chemist, has succeeded in pro-
ducing the rose ruby and the sapphire
These stones are of good size, and, it is
stated, cannot be distinguished, even by
experts, from the natural ones, to whicl
they are said to be in all respects equal


not only in shape, but also in weight


color, hardness and lustre. Even the pc


culiarity of the natural ruby to lose it.
brilliance on being heated and recover i
when cooled again is found to be pro
perty of these rubies artiticially produced
They blunt the best tools, and it is repre-
sented that for watch-makers' jewels the,


are found to be superior to those now il
use. As yet the processes are not quit


perfect, but as the DISCOVERIES, Messrs


Frenzy and Fell, have made those pro


cesses public, there is general belle


that other chemists will improve upol


them, and that in the course of tey


years all the varieties of the sapphire


which include the ruby, amethyst, topa


and emerald, and the blue variety whicl


gives to the sapphire the distinctive nam


by which it is known to dealers-will b.


produced in abundance. French jewel


ers and dealers in precious stones are SAT-


to be much excited over the discovery


Baltimore Sun.