■286 SYSTEMATIC DESCRIPTION OF PRECIOUS STONES 



Sapphire is the more abundant of the two in Siam (the two, however, coming from different 

 mines), in Ceylon, at Zanskar in Kashmir, in the gold and diamond sands of Australia, 

 especially of New South Wales, and in Montana in the United States. Other localities, 

 such, for example, as the Eui'opean, are unimportant. By far the largest number of 

 sapphires which come into the market are from Siam, the production of other countries 

 being in comparison with this quite insignificant. 



Not only the largest number of sapphires, but also the finest quality of stones, come 

 from Siam (see Map, Figs. 54 and 56). The most important of the long-known mines of 

 this country, the systematic working of which has recently been undertaken by Europeans, 

 are those of Battambang, in which a few rubies are found with the sapphires. A certain 

 number of good stones are found in the ruby mines of Chantabun and Krat, mentioned 

 above. It is estimated that the mines of Bo Pie Rin in Battambang alone yield five-eighths 

 of the total sapphire production of the world. Many of the stones found here surpass 

 those from all other localities in their intense blue colour and velvety lustre. Many, 

 however, of the so-called inky stones, are so deep in colour that in reflected light they 

 appear almost black. It is a remarkable fact that the larger stones exceeding one carat in 

 weight are almost invariably of finer colour and quality than smaller stones. Although the 

 occurrence of sapphire in Siam was known at least as early as the beginning of the 

 nineteenth century, the mines have been regularly worked only since about the year 1875. 

 It is possible, however, that stones from these mines came into the market through Burma 

 and were sold as Burmese stones. The mines of Siam have, therefore, grown into 

 importance with great rapidity. According to Streeter, to whom the present account is 

 ■due, the sale of Siamese sapphires by a single firm of London gem merchants amounted, in 

 1889, to .£'75,000. 



The sapphire in this locality is found in a slightly sandy clay, usually about 2 feet 

 below the surface of the ground. The most important mines are situated in the sides and 

 ifloor of the Phelin Valley. Each is a rough pit almost 4 feet square and 5 to 12 feet deep. 

 As usual in occuiTences of this type, the clay is washed away from the excavated mass and 

 -the stones picked out of the sandy residue. 



So far as is known at present, the sapphire-bearing deposit extends over an area of 

 about 100 square miles. The centre of the trade both for rubies and sapphires is the 

 town of Chantabun, on the Gulf of Siam, in latitude about 12^° N. In the neighbourhood 

 of this town, besides the ruby mines already mentioned, there are deposits in which sapphire 

 is the predominating gem, and these appear to have been known and worked longer than 

 those of Battambang. The sapphire has not yet been observed to occur in Siam in deposits 

 of any type other than gem-sands, so that little is known of the minerals associated with it 

 in the mother-rock. 



As to the occurrence of sapphire in Burma, there is little to be added to what has 

 been already said respecting the occurrence of ruby in this country. Sapphires are found 

 at the same localities and under the same conditions, but where one sapphire is found there 

 will be 500 rubies. While, however, rubies of good quality and exceeding 10 carats in 

 weight are of extremely rare occurrence, large sapphires are found with considerable 

 frequency. The discovery of sapphires weighing 1988, 951, 820, and 253 carats respectively, 

 has been reported. Stones weighing 6 to 9 carats, though common, are often faulty. The 

 largest faultless stone yet found in Burma weighs 79J carats ; all others show considerable 

 faults. The colour of Burmese sapphires is usually so dark that they appear almost black, 

 they are seldom comparable in quality with those from Siam, and do not command a high 

 price. 



