BY MAJOR J. R. SANKEY. 65 
The blue sapphires are not equal to those of Siam, 
and they have received a bad name owing largely to 
defective cutting. I have possessed royal velvety-blue 
Queensland sapphires, equal to any I have ever seen from 
other Countries. 
Parti-coloured sapphires are frequently found, many 
blue stones having strange triangular markings of yellow 
due to peculiarities of crystallisation. 
On the whole it may be said that the sapphires of 
Queensland are now equal to those of any other part of 
the World. 
Very large stones are found, and recently some of 
bigh value have been unearthed. It is reported that 
within the last three months £250 was refused for a rough 
yellow sapphire on the Anakie field, the miner sending 
it to London, with a reserve of £500. 
Queensland also produces star sapphires. These have 
a silky structure which, by cutting en cabochon, developes 
a 6-rayed star of wavy light. 
The Queensland sapphire has had a hard struggle 
(commercially) for existence; only a few years ago leading 
residents of Queensland declared openly that it had 
neither beauty nor value, and nearly the whole jewellery 
trade was against it, but, fortunately, its claim to beauty 
is now recognised. Buyers from all parts of the World 
are visiting Anakie, and a great future awaits the gem. 
“ Finger-Ring Lore,” by William Jones, F.S.A., re- 
ferring to the sapphire as the ecclesiastical gem, says 
‘* Cardinals, on their creation, receive a ring, in which is 
usually a sapphire.” Amethyst, however, is more the 
favourite episcopal ring-stone. 
Alhed to, and in very many cases overlapping, the 
above description of Queensland sapphires are :— 
Oreintal Amehyst, which is frequently a combination 
crystal of ruby and sapphire, in alternate layers of red and 
blue, thus producing a rich purple. 
Oriental Emerald, which is the green-sapphire, color 
as near as possible to that of the Emerald. 
Oriental Peridot in like manner, is sapphire with 
the color of peridot. 
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