74: Scientific Intelligence. 



as proved both by microscopic structure and by composition ; in 

 other words, the material is uralite-nephrite. Nephrite was also 

 obtained in rolled masses from the same locality and at other 

 points, but in these cases showed no alteration, so that its compo- 

 sition corresponded closely to normal actinolite. 



It is interesting to note in this connection the remarks by G. F. 

 Kunz, on the recent discovery of nephrite in Siberia. He says:* 

 "This search for nephrite in Siberia was greatly stimulated in 

 1897 by a command from the imperial house of Russia that 

 material be obtained for the sarcophagus for the remains of the 

 late Alexander III. L. von Jascewski, in charge of the Siberian 

 division of the geological survey of Russia, made three trips to 

 the eastern Ural Mountains for the purpose of discovering larger 

 masses of nephrite than had been known, and if possible, of find- 

 ing nephrite in place. After thoroughly studying the deposits 

 and obtaining masses of the material in the region of the Onot, 

 which had been visited by Alibert in 1850 and Permikin in 1865, 

 he then wended his way towards the region of the Chara Jalga, 

 in the bed of which river he discovered some masses of nephrite 

 measuring 12 feet in length and 3 feet in width, but even more 

 important than this, he found a ledge of the primitive nephrite 

 of magnificent green color — for the /first time recognized in situ 

 in Siberia. Enough of the material was obtained from the 

 bowlders in the streams so that for the past three years the 

 Imperial Lapidary Works at St. Petersburg have been making a 

 small pavilion or canopy to be placed over the tombs of the Czar 

 and his wife. This pavilion or canopy measures 13 feet in height, 

 and is made up entirely of nephrite and rhodonite, of which 

 latter material the entire sarcophagus had already been made for 

 Czar Alexander II." 



11. The World's .Largest Diamond. — The gigantic diamond 

 found in 1893, at Jagersfontein in South Africa, first called the 

 "Excelsior" and weighing in the rough state 97lf carats, was 

 exhibited at the Paris Exposition in 1900 cut as a brilliant and 

 valued perhaps at $2,000,000. It is now called the if Jubilee 

 Diamond," in honor of the celebration of the sixtieth anniver- 

 sary of the accession of Queen Victoria. G. F. Kunz saysf in 

 regard to it : " It far surpasses any diamond known, not only in 

 size, but in its faultless perfection of color, luster, and water, and 

 it has been cut with the most skillful modern appliances, so that 

 it is an absolutely peerless gem. The Jubilee diamond weighs 239 

 French international carats of 205 milligrams. The Orloff of 

 Russia weighs 194^ carats; the Regent of France, 136f carats; 

 the Imperial, 180 carats, and the Koh-i-ntir, 102f carats. The 

 OrlofT, moreover, is a quaint, oriental-cut stone, and if it had 

 been cut as a brilliant would not have weighed over 140 carats. 

 Moreover, it is not flawless. The Regent has a minute flaw, and 



* The Production of Precious Stones in 1900, from Mineral Resources of the 

 U. S. for 1900) U. S. Geol. Survey), 

 f Loc. cit. 



