63 Practical Remarks on Gems. 



which locahty and its vicinity may be said literally to abound 

 with those I am about to enumerate ; many of them, which I 

 have had cut and polished, would not suffer in comparison, with 

 some of the highly prized European and Asiatic gems — produc- 

 tions of the same family. 



Among these may be named the Chrysoprase, Amethyst, 

 Cairn-gorm, White Crystal, Brown Crystal, Precious Garnet, 

 Chalcedony, Jas-per, Corundum,, Hypersthene, Red Oxide of 

 T'itanium,, Sphene, (to which this is nearly allied,) and Spinelle, 

 together with the Beryl, Zirco7i and Jade, — the last three now 

 fallen into disuse. 



1. Chrysoprase is a very pretty second class gem of a delicate 

 pea or apple green color, a good deal thought of by the jewellers, 

 and used by them in every form, from the humble stomacher pin 

 to the peerless tiara and aigrette. It looks however to best ad- 

 vantage when set in filagree, the dead yellow of which forms a 

 pleasing contrast with its bright and agreeable green. Having a 

 vitreous lustre, and hardness like quartz, it is in frequent requi- 

 sition for signets and the like, — the demand varying with the 

 fashion ; but it is at all times considered a valuable stone. It is 

 mentioned in Revelations as the tenth foundation stone of the 

 heavenly Jerusalem. In some of the European countries it is 

 worn as an amulet, and is like all other beautiful stones, suc- 

 cessfully imitated. 



2. The Amethyst, ( Violet Quartz. ) This was worn by the an- 

 cients as an amulet against intoxication. It varies in shade from 

 a delicate pink or lilac, to a deep purple, sometimes approaching 

 to a dark blue ; the latter is called " oriental,"* notwithstanding 

 its being frequently found in northern Europe, and in many parts 

 of Germany. Some call this stone " sapphire," but sapphire is 

 much harder and certainly a far greater rarity. 



Amethyst I believe to be the softest of the quartz family, hav- 

 ing found when setting this stone with a hard or ordinary file, 

 and subsequently polishing the setting with rotten stone on 

 threads, the facets considerably grubbed or rounded. This is 

 also used by the jewellers in every form that taste or fancy dic- 



* Oriental was at first a geographical epithet, but is now used as a term of ex- 

 cellence. — Eds. 



