Birds and Nature Vol. 11 No. 4 [April 1902]: Illustrated by Color Photography — John Shaqi
Birds and Nature Vol. 11 No. 4 [April 1902]: Illustrated by Color PhotographyVarious
History
Birds and Nature Vol. 11 No. 4 [April 1902]: Illustrated by Color Photography
Various
Birds -- Periodicals; Natural history -- Periodicals
The calcium-aluminum variety of garnet, grossularite, cinnamon stone or
essonite, is less used in jewelry than those above mentioned. It is
usually yellow to brown in color, but may be rose red or pink, as in the
specimen from Mexico shown in the accompanying plate. The yellow
grossularites resemble in color the gem known as hyacinth and are
sometimes sold in place of the latter, but true hyacinth is much heavier
and doubly refracting. About the only essonites or cinnamon stones
available for gems come from Ceylon. These are of good size and color.
Those from Italy, shown in the accompanying plate, are too small to cut
into gems, but surrounded as they are by light green chlorite and
pyroxene, they make very pretty mineral specimens. Grossularite is
almost always found in crystalline limestone.
Green garnets are of two kinds, the calcium-iron garnet, known as
demantoid, and the calcium-chromium garnet known as uvarovite. The
demantoid garnets come only from the Urals. They have a rich green color
and make beautiful gems when good ones can be found. The name demantoid
refers to the diamond-like luster which they possess. The stone is also
known as “Uralian emerald.” Uvarovite, named for Count Uvarov of Russia,
also makes valuable gems if found in pieces of sufficient size and
luster. It is found in Russia, in Pennsylvania and in Canada. Garnet has
long been the birthstone of the month of January.
“By her who in this month is born
No gems save garnets should be worn.
They will insure her constancy,
True friendship and fidelity.”
Such are the virtues ascribed to the garnet. That the stone has been
known and used from the earliest times I have already remarked. Under
the name of carbuncle mention is made of it in the literature of all
ages, its impressive feature being usually the brilliant, fiery light
which it gives forth. According to the Talmud, the only light which Noah
had in the ark was afforded by a carbuncle, and there are many Oriental
tales regarding the size and brilliancy of carbuncles owned by the
potentates of the East. Occasionally carbuncles were engraved, and some
fine garnet intaglios are still known. The greater abundance of the
stone in modern times has led to its being less highly prized than
formerly, and to its being put to other uses than mere adornment, but it
perhaps contributes more largely to the comfort and happiness of the
world as it is now used than could ever have been the case when it was
the property only of kings.
Oliver Cummings Farrington.
ANIMAL EMOTIONS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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