SAPPHIRE IN UNITED STATES. 115 
well defined, as are also the intersections of the rhonibohedral faces 
of the depression. These rhonibohedral faces were smooth and *^ave 
fair reflections of the signal on the reflecting goniometer. In meas- 
uring them the entire crystal except the depression to be measurcvl 
was covered with a thin coating of wax. Two difl'erent crystals were 
measured, which gave for rhombohedron on rhombohedron 22° IW ; 
this corresponds to the rhombohedron 1017, for which the calculated 
value is 21° 50'. Figures of the same style Avere observed whose edges 
were parallel to those of the negative rhombohedron ; these, however, 
are not common in isolated forms. 
Another common form is represented in figs. 7 and 9 of PI. VIII, 
where the depression is bounded by the basal plane, which at times is 
so large that the rhombohedral plane is hardly visible. Fig. G of PI. 
VIII represents etching figures, where, on the basal ])lane of a shallow 
depression, there is one additional etching figure and sometimes Iavo. 
These second etching figures are like the common ones shown in fig. 5 
of PL VIII. The outer rhombohedral contour of these figures is gen- 
erally rounded. This is also usually the case with the deeper depres- 
sions. 
Often the etching figures are intergrown (fig. 8 of PL VIII), and 
when many of these occur together they have the appearance of 
raised figures rather than of depressions. This raised appearance is 
very striking when there is a combination of the plus and minus 
rhombohedron m parallel position and without overlapping (fig. 10 
of PL VIII). 
The figures vary considerably in size, but most of them are about 
1 mm. in diameter. A few were observed that were nearly 2 mm. in 
diameter. 
Bauer « has described etching figures that he observed on the base 
0001 and the pyramid 2213 of the Burma rubies. Those on the base 
are similar to the figures in fig. 5 of PL VIII, except that the outside 
contour of the rhombohedron is rounded. 
The largest rough stones that have been found weighed 11 to 12 
carats, and from these were cut gems weighing 5 to (> carats. One 
of the better stones taken out during the season of 1899 weighed 4 
carats Avhen cut and is valued at over $75 a carat. All of the mate- 
rial is shipped to London. 
The two companies operating these sapphire deposits are the New 
Sapphire Mines Syndicate and The American Gem Company. 
That the American gems are appreciatinl is shown by the hn-ge 
orders that are received for them fi'om Paris, London, and New York. 
Lot', cit., p. 2i;{. 
