1884.] 3 [Bouv4. 



that the mineral was no other than Garnet containing consider- 

 able iron. From further information it was learned that many 

 stones had been received from Siberia and cut in London, and 

 they soon became common in our markets. They are readily 

 distinguished from the Emerald by greater brilliancy and by 

 yellowish reflections. The color is generally not so dark and is 

 nearly grass-green in shade. These remarks apply to the greater 

 portion of them ; there are some, however, of a decidedly less 

 bright green tint, the color being rather more olive. From 

 properly cut stones of both hues, there are perceived, when favor- 

 ably held, blueish and reddish reflections such as are seen in Dia- 

 monds but never in Emeralds or Hiddenites. 



The Hiddenite is also distinguished from the Emerald by its 

 less dark shade, and often too by greater brilliancy. From the 

 green Garnet it generally differs in lacking the yellowish tint in 

 its reflections, though in rare instances something of this is per- 

 ceived. The yellow shade is, however, never so marked a fea- 

 ture as in the Garnet. Of course comparison should be made by 

 day as by artificial light the yellow reflections are not percepti- 

 ble in either gem. 



One might infer from the statement made of the greater bril- 

 liancy of both the Hiddenite and the Garnet, when compared with 

 the Emerald, that this should decide their relative beauty; but 

 that is not the case, for the Emerald has a beauty of its own in 

 its deep and rich shade of color, that will ever make it rank at 

 least an equal in loveliness with the newer aspirants for favor. 



Another gem has been received by the dealers within a short 

 time, the character of which, so far as I can learn, has not been 

 understood either here or abroad. Several years ago I bought 

 from a leading house in Boston two beautiful light yellow stones 

 said to be Chrysolites, and had them set as pendants. Their 

 shade of color was quite like that of the yellow Diamonds now so 

 frequently seen, and indeed they were when worn mistaken for 

 them by the inexperienced. A few months since similar stones 

 were bought in London, the dealer acknowledging his ignorance 

 of their character. One of these came into my hands and finding 

 it to have the specific gravity of Spodumene, about 3.18, I was 

 led to weigh those also which I had bought and had set as Chrys- 

 olites. As suspected, their specific gravity indicated that they 

 were of the same composition. 



