NO. 1867. CRYSTALLIZED VARISCITE FROM UTAH.—8CHALLER. 415 



furnish a large range in the types of stones that can be cut from the 

 variscite. The variscite ranges in color from a very pale green 

 through different shades to a bright grass green. The matrix is 

 either white, gray, yellow, brown, or nearly black. 



The gems that can be cut from the variscite from the Edison and 

 Bird mine range from large pure stones with light to dark green 

 color through those with small quantities of matrix, to those in which 

 the matrix predominates. The dark and bright green variscite is 

 obtained in pieces that will cut into pure stones measuring more than 

 an inch across, and paler-colored mineral will yield even larger pure 

 stones. Some of the bright-green variscite is partly translucent and 

 thin pieces and small pebbles display their color well in the partially 

 transmitted light. This is especially true of the coarser-grained, 

 finely crystalline variscite. Specimens of matrix are obtained that 

 will yield slabs 6 inches across, some of which show quite remarkable 

 patterns and colors. One block of matrix found at this mine meas- 

 ures 4 to 6 inches in diameter and weighs several pounds. The whole 

 mass is composed of variscite mottled with brown and white matrix. 

 The pattern is the t3^pical turtleback and the markings are coarser in 

 some parts of the specimen than in others. The markings are due 

 to rounded patches or nodules of pale to bright green variscite, some 

 of which are surrounded by rims of white or gray, and all filled with 

 purplish-brown matrix. The brown matrix occurs only as an inter- 

 nodular filling and the seams are rarely over a millimeter thick. 

 Occasional larger patches of matrix occur where several seams meet 

 around the variscite nodules. The rounded masses of variscite vary 

 from a fraction of a millimeter to a centimeter in diameter. Other 

 smaller pieces of mottled variscite have been found along with speci- 

 mens of brown, gray, and white matrix, with practically the same 

 texture. Some pieces of mottled matrix contain little if any variscite, 

 but would itself cut into stones with the turtleback markings. 



Among other types of variscite matrix is that with bright grass- 

 green variscite mottled with patches and cloudlike masses of lighter 

 green material, or vice versa. Such matrix may contain seams and 

 spots of white, gray, or yellowish mineral through it. A white quartz 

 breccia, cemented and filled in with bright green variscite, is also a 

 pleasing stone when cut, but is more difficult to pohsh because of the 

 difi'erence in hardness of the two minerals. The quartz occurs in 

 sharp, angular fragments, which are in excess of the variscite in some 

 specimens, but generally less prominent. 



The variscite and variscite-matrix from this locaHty would yield 

 very beautiful gems for the so-called barbaric jewelry. It is sus- 

 ceptible to nearly every form of cutting used with opaque gems, but 

 on account of its comparative softness is not adapted to rough wear. 

 For pendants, brooches, pins, belt stones, etc., it is well suited. 



