Birds and Nature Vol. 11 No. 1 [January 1902]: Illustrated by Color PhotographyVarious
History
Birds and Nature Vol. 11 No. 1 [January 1902]: Illustrated by Color Photography
Various
Birds -- Periodicals; Natural history -- Periodicals
Rose Quartz.—This form of quartz, the color of which is indicated by its
name, is rarely of sufficient transparency to be prized as a gem. Cut,
however, into various ornaments, it makes objects of considerable
beauty. Its luster, instead of being glassy like that of other forms of
quartz, is nearly always more or less greasy. The ingredient which gives
its color is not known. It is probably some organic matter, since the
color disappears on heating and, unfortunately for the extended use of
the stone, fades considerably on exposure to light. There are numerous
localities whence rose quartz of good color may be obtained, although it
is not of so common occurrence as most other varieties of quartz. The
best rose quartz in this country comes from Oxford County, Maine, and
the Black Hills. Foreign localities are the Urals, Brazil and Ceylon.
Smoky Quartz.—This variety of quartz is often known as “smoky topaz,” a
misleading term, since the mineral is not topaz at all. As its name
implies, its color is like that of smoked glass, all gradations
occurring between a mere tinge to color so dark as to render the mineral
practically opaque. The color often varies considerably in the same
crystal, being darker and lighter in spots. The coloring matter is
undoubtedly carbonaceous and organic in nature, for when a crystal is
heated it gives off a smell of burning organic matter, and by heating
for some length of time the coloring may be entirely burned out. At an
intermediate stage in such heating the color becomes brown or yellow,
and stones of this color are often cut as gems and known by the name of
“Spanish topaz” or “citrine.” True citrine is, however, transparent
quartz with a natural yellow color. The most remarkable crystals of
smoky quartz known are some that were found in 1868 in a hollow in
granite in a locality in the Canton Uri, Switzerland. About 3,000 pounds
of well formed crystals were there found, the largest and best of which
are preserved in the Berne Museum. They are so unique that special names
have been given them. One about two and one-half feet long, and weighing
nearly four hundred pounds, is known as the “Grandfather”; another,
somewhat smaller, but more perfect in form, as the “King,” and two of
nearly equal size, weighing about one hundred and forty pounds each, are
called “Castor and Pollux.” The smaller crystals obtained from this and
neighboring regions in the Alps are for the most part of great
perfection of form and color. Aside from these localities in the Alps,
the most remarkable crystals of smoky quartz come from the region of
Pike’s Peak, in our own country. While not reaching the size of the
Alpine crystals, they are often perfect in form and color, and gems to
the value of thousands of dollars are annually cut from the supply there
obtained. Alexander County, North Carolina, also furnishes many
crystals. Smoky quartz may be called the national stone of Scotland, the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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