131 



beds, and were it not for its vessicular nature would make a handsome 

 ornamental stone. However, small pieces, sufficiently compact, may 

 be obtained which work up into a curious and pretty gem. 



In British Columbia, Jasper is often found of a green colour, 

 constituting Heliotrope ; also at the Lake Superior district and Two 

 Islands in Nova Scot'a a similar mineral occurs, sometimes interspersed 

 with thin seams and dots of red Jasper, called Bloodstone. 



Silicified Wood is merely wood that has been saturated with Silica, 

 either in the form of Quartz or Opal, and some varieties of which are 

 very handsome. It is frequently found in the Tertiary and Cretaceous 

 rocks of the Norlh-West and British Columbia in large pieces. 



Cachelony is a hydrous variety of Quartz or Opal occurring at 

 several places on the Bay of Fundy, associated with Agate. This 

 stone would cut into small gems cf a white translucent colour. 



Chiastolite. — This mineral is worthy of a place among the gem 

 materials ; if its sombre colour does not introduce it as a general 

 favourite, its quaint dark coloured cross, which is revealed when the 

 crystals are cut at right angles to the longer axis, would obtain for it 

 some admirers as a curious gem. This mineral, according io the 

 Geology of Canada, is found on Lake St. Francis, and boulders of a 

 schistose rock of some hundreds of pounds in weight, thickly studded 

 with these crystals, were observed by Dr. Ells in the Eastern Town- 

 ships. 



Stauroliie, is another mineral that may be mentioned in this connec- 

 tion as it is sufficiently hard and takes a good polish, and when of a 

 reddish-brown colour and translucent, will make rather a pretty gem- 

 Crystals of this mineral occur at Moore's Mills in New Brunswick, and 

 it has also been observed in Nova Scotia and the Eastern Townships, 

 but judging from specimens I have seen, none of gem quality. 



Feldspar, is made to include a number of minerals such as 

 Orthoclase, including Adularin, (Moonstone) and Porphyry : Microcline, 

 including Amazon Stone and Perthite ; Albite, including Moonstone 

 and Peristerite ; Oligoclase, including Sunstone and Moonstone ; 

 Labradorite and Obsidian. You will therefore see that the Moonstone 

 may consist of three different feldspars. The transparent variety from 

 Ceylon is Oligoclase. The milky variety from St. Gothard is Ortho- 



