brooks] precious GEM MINES IN CALIFORNIA 231 



other countries. We can see therefore that the redwood has a 

 commercial value as well as an aesthetic value. 



Precious Gem Mines in California 



Lloyd Brooks 



California must not only be remembered by the rest of the world 

 as a state where simshine and beautiful flowers are abundant but 

 also as a state of many precious gem mines. 



In locating our California mines we cannot confine ourselves to 

 any one portion of the state but we must cover the whole state. 

 It is also impossible in writing so short an article to describe 

 and locate all the mines so I shall deal with but a few of them. 



First is the gold region of the central and northern counties along 

 the western base of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Here also are 

 found a few diamonds. Gold is found over the entire state but the 

 principal deposits are in the north. 



The second district is that centering round Visalia, just south 

 of Fresno. Here we find some beautiful stones and many forms 

 of quartz minerals used for ornamental purposes. Here we find 

 one stone of particular interest to the Califomian, a compact 

 green variety of vesuvianite which resembles closely the jade so 

 much in use in the orient. This is also found in a few of the 

 northern counties but in no other state nor in any other part of 

 the world. 



The third district is an arid, desert region in southern CaHfomia 

 where there are many mines producing turquoise. 



The fourth district centers around San Diego and is the principle 

 gem district of the state, having been developed within the past 

 few years ; many of the mines are at present mere "prospects" since 

 they have not been developed. The gems found here are tourma- 

 line, spodumeone, topaz, transparent epidote, axinch, pink, green, 

 and blue beryl, and garnet. 



Chalcedony occurs as a pebble on the beaches at Redondo, 

 Crescent City and Pescadero. Occuring with these are pebbles 

 of agate and jasper, beautifully marked. These stones are easily 

 polished and make attractive jewelry. Chrysoprase is another 

 rare stone found in California in the district above Visalia and in a 

 few other parts of the world. This stone was but recently dis- 

 covered here and is a chalcedony that is colored a beautiful light 

 green by oxide of nickel. It is a favorite stone in jewelry and was 

 used extensively for ornamental work in the ancient times. 



