SECRETARY'S REPORT 27 



A total of 4,113 specimens were added to the Roebling collection by 

 purchase or exchange. Outstanding among these were a very large 

 Japanese twin of quartz, from Arizona; a fine specimen of scolecite 

 from Brazil ; a crystal of scapolite of unusually large size from Mex- 

 ico ; some fine f rancevillite and chervetite from Gabon ; and some out- 

 standing specimens of raspite from Australia. Acquired by purchase 

 from the Canfield fund was a very large crystal of chrysoberyl from 

 Russia and an extraordinary crystal of danburite from Baja Califor- 

 nia, Mexico. 



Outstanding new additions to the gem collection included a 1,000- 

 carat aquamarine, from Brazil, from Evyan Perfumes, Inc.; a very 

 unusual star sapphire, showing four separate stars, from Ceylon, from 

 Sidney Krandall & Sons; a jade bowl, formerly in the Vetlesen col- 

 lection, from Mrs. Mildred Tabor Keally; a Mexican opal, from 

 Mrs. Frank A. Lewis ; two fine kunzites from Brazil, weighing 296.78 

 and 336.16 carats, from Robert C. Nelson, Jr. ; four diamonds of rare 

 blue and green colors, from Van Cleef & Arpels, Inc. ; and a collection 

 of spheres of jade, petrified wood, and other gem materials from 

 Albert R. Cutter. Gems acquired by purchase from the Chamberlain 

 fund for the Isaac Lea collection included a 22.35 carat golden sapphire 

 and a 24.15-carat cat's-eye diopside. 



Five very exceptional gems, all from Brazil, were added to the 

 collection by exchange. They were a golden green beryl weighing 

 1,363 carats, a 914-carat green beryl, a greenish-colored topaz weighing 

 1,469 carats, a 1,362-carat amethyst, and a heart-shaped kunzite weigh- 

 ing 880 carats. Received from an anonymous donor was the Portu- 

 guese diamond, a fine step-cut stone weighing 127.01 carats. The 

 Portuguese diamond is the largest cut diamond from Brazil and the 

 thirteenth largest in the world. In the 1920's it was recut to its present 

 shape from a 150-carat cushion-shaped stone. Details of its early 

 history are unknown, but it is said that it was once owned by the 

 royal family of Portugal. 



Eighty-three meteorites were accessioned during the year, 28 of 

 which were not previously represented in the collection, making this 

 the best year in some time. The most important single addition was 

 the collection of the late Arthur R. Allen of Trinidad, Colo. It con- 

 tained 45 meteorites and 636 grams of tektites and was purchased 

 by a grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 

 Specimens of particular interest were the 14 fine oriented individuals 

 of the Pasamonte, N. Mex., fall (totaling 1.3 kg.) and a Canyon 

 Diablo specimen containing a large diamond inclusion. Seven stony 

 meteorites that had not been previously known were included : Ala- 

 mosa, Colo. (1.8 kg.) ; Blackwell, Okla. (2.4 kg.) ; Georgetown, Colo. 

 (0.68 kg.) ; Mosquero, N. Mex. (1.6 kg.) ; Thatcher, Colo. (2 g.) ; 



