Transcriber’s Notes: Underscores “_” before and after a word or phrase indicate _italics_ in the original text. Small capitals have been converted to SOLID capitals. Illustrations have been moved so they do not break up paragraphs. Old or antiquated spellings have been preserved. Typographical errors have been silently corrected but other variations in spelling and punctuation remain unaltered. Added “Spodumene 96” to TOC, as it was missing. A HAND-BOOK OF PRECIOUS STONES BY M. D. ROTHSCHILD NEW YORK & LONDON G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS _The Knickerbocker Press_ 1890 COPYRIGHT BY M. D. ROTHSCHILD 1889 _The Knickerbocker Press, New York_ Electrotyped and Printed by G. P. Putnam’s Sons CONTENTS. PAGE What are Precious Stones? 7 Physical Characters— Crystallization 10 Cleavage 10 Fracture 11 Optical Properties— Refraction 12 Polarization of Light 13 Pleiochroism 14 Colors 15 Lustre 17 Streak 18 Hardness 19 Specific Gravity 21 Weight 27 Fusibility 28 Magnetism 30 Transparency 30 Phosphorescence 31 Electricity 31 Cutting and Polishing 32