44 



MEXICAN RESOURCES. 



PRECIOUS STONES, OPALS, ETC. 



Rubies are found in tlie State of Durango. Diamonds in the State of Guerrero 

 and Tonalixco, in the direction of the Sierra de Zon^olica. Topazes in the Sierra 

 de Canoas, in the State of San Luis Potosi. Emeralds in Tejupitco, State of 

 Mexico. Garnets in Xalostro, State of Morelos, and in the State of Chihuahua. 

 Fine opals in Esperanza and Amealco, State of Queretaro, and in Real del Monte, 

 State of Hidalgo. Common opals in Zimapan, State of Hidalgo. Stilbite in States 

 of Chihuahua and Guanajuato. Quartzes, agates, carnelians, etc., in Real del Monte, 

 State of Hidalgo, and in the mine of San Rafael, State of San Luis Potosi. 

 Various silicates in Bustamancia and Pachuca, State of Hidalgo. Xonatlacias in 

 Xonotla, State of Puebla. 



The richest opaliferous district is in Queretaro, in the environs of the hacienda 

 of Esperanza, ten leagues (twenty-five mi-les) north-west of San Juan del Rio. This 

 hacienda is surrounded by opal-bearing rocks; even the buildings pertaining to it 

 being erected upon them. The opals of Esperanza were discovered in 1855 by a 

 servant of the place, but were not worked until 1870, when the first mine was 

 opened one league north-east of the hacienda, and called Santa Maria del Iris. 

 Others followed, and now there are ten veins exposed. The rock in which the 

 opals are found is a siliceous porphyry, the banks, or ridges, having a general 

 direction from south-east to north-west, which may be plainly noted in the hill of 

 Ceja de Leon — the Lion's Eyebrow. The mine called the Simpatica is the most 

 noted for its great variety of opals, inasmuch as it is called a magazine of all 

 known varieties. In the same morning one can obtain precious opals, arlcqicines; 

 fire-opals, — girasols de fuegos, — semi-opals, etc. 



The precious opals are found both opaque and transparent, and presenting an 

 infinite play of color, from ruby and metallic lustre, to violet blue, which is con- 

 sidered as a rare and desirable color. The arleqiihies reflect a diversity of colors. 

 The girasols display emerald tints upon a basic color of fiery red. 



In the neighboring hills are the mines of El Rosario, El Iris, La Peineta, and 

 Providencia. As the opals are encountered disseminated throughout the matrix 

 of porphyry, without any apparent system, their mining consists merely in sinking 

 various wells, or small shafts, on the most likely spots, making use of augers, — 

 barrenos, — on account of the hardness of the rock containing the stones. When 

 one of these shafts attains to a sufficient depth, it presents a really marvellous 

 spectacle ; the rock glistening with a thousand rays of colored light. The color 

 of the matrix varies from a grayish red to a reddish white, and the difference in 

 color indicates the class of opal it contains. In the first are found the girasols, or 

 fire-opals, though mixed with others, similar ; but in the white porphyries, as in 

 those of the Cerro of Peineta, are found in profusion cloudy opals as beautiful 

 as those of Hungary and Guatemala.' 



Marble. — Sierra de Puebla; las Aguas and Vizarron, State of Queretaro; 

 and in the States of Guerrero, Guanajuato, Michoacan, Nuevo-Leon, etc. 



Mexican Onyx. — State of Puebla. 



Gypsum. — In Tamazula; State of Jalisco. 



Granite. — State of Oaxaca; Ameca, State of Jalisco; Tamascaltepec, State 

 of Mexico; and on the coast of Acapulco, State of Guerrero. 



' Estadistica de la Republica. 



