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POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



that of the largest diamonds. The frequency of occurrence where the 

 two occur together is in the proportion of three of the carbon to one 

 of the diamond, by weight, while good quality carbon is worth more per 

 carat than gem rough diamonds. The miners know this, and it is 

 their constant desire to encounter carbons. Many of them go to the 

 sacred tree near Lengoes, where the spirit of Santa Barbara, the patron 

 saint of the miner, is said to have appeared, and place on a limb 

 thereof a stone of the size of the carbon they wish to find. They then 

 pray and it is said that the saint has blessed many of the faithful. 



The largest carbon ever encountered was found near Lengoes in 

 1895, on the ledge of a mountain which had been worked some time 

 before. It weighed, when found, 3,165 carats, was purchased from the 

 miner for $16,000 and was finally exported to London, where it sold 

 for $31,145, having lost about 50 carats meantime in drying out. In 

 London it was broken into pieces suitable for drills and these pieces 

 sold for about $40,000, while at the present price of carbon they would 

 be worth about $158,000. 



The next largest carbon was found this year, and is still in the 

 bands of the miner. It weighed when found 869 carats, but has lost 



Fig. 1. The Largest Carbon ever found. 



