PRECIOUS STONES 333 



groups, in lilac lepidolite (lithia mica), none of which, however, 

 is suitable for gem material. The mine is worked for the 

 lepidolite, as a source of lithia compounds, and specimens find 

 a ready sale to collectors and museums. The other mine, which 

 has only recently been discovered, carries large and splendid 

 crystals of tourmaline of mingled colors, and also a new gem 

 named kunzite, a transparent lilac spodumene. 



Reference has been made above to the discovery of the 

 new and interesting gem stone kunzite, at Pala, Cal. This 

 locality is remarkable for its lithia compounds, among which 

 are the colored tourmalines and the spodumene, both of which 

 contain lithia in small amounts, combined with silica, alumina, 

 and other oxides. 



The mineral spodumene is usually obtained in large, 

 opaque, whitish crystals, but from time to time small specimens, 

 often richly colored and transparent, are found. The three 

 characteristic varieties of the latter are a clear yellow gem spod- 

 umene from Brazil, the green hiddenite or lithia emerald of 

 North Carolina, and small lilac specimens sometimes found in 

 Connecticut. These last are without doubt remnants of large 

 crj'Stals, which must have been very beautiful. Spodumene 

 is particularly subject to alteration, and when found has usu- 

 ally lost ail its transparency and beauty of tint. 



Large and magnificiant crystals of unaltered spodumene, 

 of rich lilac color, have now been discovered near Pala, San 

 Diego county, Cal., in connection with other lithia minerals. 

 This locality has yielded crystals measuring 10 by 20 by 4 cen- 

 timeters, perfectly clear, of a rose lilac tint, varying with the 

 spodumene dichroism from a very pale color w^hen looked at 

 across the prism to a rich amethystine hue observed longitu- 

 dinally. No such spodumene has ever been seen before, and 

 the discovery is of great mineralogical interest. The crys- 

 tals have been etched by weathering like the hiddenite variety. 

 When cut and mounted parallel to the base, they furnish gems 

 of great beauty, entirely new in jewelry, and make a notable 

 addition to American gem stones. 



Califomite (vesuvianite) a mineral which promises to be 

 a notable addition to the increasing list of semiprecious or 

 ornamental stones found in the United States, has recently 



