Burma.12, corundum, gems

La Touche provides a comprehensive geological account of the Northern Shan States of Burma, describing the region’s physical geography, stratigraphy, geological structure, and mineral resources on the basis of Geological Survey of India field investigations. The memoir treats the principal rock formations and their distribution and discusses the geological history and structural relationships of the region, with attention to economically important mineral occurrences. Of particular gemological interest is the treatment of the ruby-bearing districts, including the occurrence of ruby and associated minerals in crystalline limestone and related deposits, as well as accounts of mining localities and methods. Other mineral resources described include lead, silver, zinc, iron, coal, and various building and ornamental materials. The volume is an important early systematic geological survey of the Northern Shan States and provides historical evidence for the geology, mineral occurrences, and mining activity of this important mineral-producing region.

corundum, Sri Lanka.12, history.1, gems

The second, revised and enlarged edition of Herbert A. Giles’s monumental Chinese–English dictionary, originally published in 1892. Entries are arranged according to Chinese characters, with pronunciations, definitions, compounds, idiomatic usages, and literary references, while the introductory material includes tables, the 214 radicals, and a radical index. Giles’s system of romanization, developed from that of Thomas Wade, became known as Wade–Giles and was enormously influential in Western sinology. For gemological research the dictionary is particularly valuable for determining the meanings and historical usages of Chinese terms for jade, precious stones, minerals, colors, and objects fashioned from them, although its English equivalents must be interpreted in the context of early twentieth-century terminology. The 1912 edition was issued as the second edition, revised and enlarged, by Kelly & Walsh and Bernard Quaritch.

corundum, history.1, Sri Lanka.12, gems

Sinkankas: The word periplus means “voyage description,” somewhat like a modern navigational “pilot,” and in this case relating a voyage around the Red Sea. It was written about 60 AD, although Wilfred H. Schoff is careful to record differing opinions. The writer remains unknown. Among the variety of goods, raw materials, and objects of trade that are mentioned in the text are gemstones and precious materials commonly discussed in the same breath as mineral treasures. More or less extended commentaries on these are found among the notes and thus form the principal reference value of this work insofar as gemological material is concerned. These are ivory 61, 193; obsidian 66; murrhine 68; tortoise-shell, rhino horn 73, 227; copal 80; alabaster 114; coral 128, 168; pearls 148, 156; topaz (in part peridot) 167; turquoise 170; lapis lazuli 170–171; agate & carnelian 193–194; transparent gemstones 222–224; diamonds 224–226; sapphires 226–227; pearl fisheries 239–241. See also Periplus Maris Erythraei, 1989, LC 88-15178, ISBN 0-691-04060-5, which covers the same subject and provides a new translation as well as an extensive commentary.

gems, beryl, morganite

The brief notice reports the naming of the newly recognized rose-colored variety of beryl as “morganite,” in honor of J. Pierpont Morgan. It describes the material as a gem variety distinguished by its delicate rose or pink coloration and records the introduction of the name into gemological usage. The note is an early contemporary reference to morganite shortly after the discovery and recognition of this variety of beryl.

corundum, history.1, gems, Arabic mineralogy, early lapidaries

Wiedemann examines the values assigned to precious stones in medieval Islamic sources, drawing upon Arabic writings on mineralogy, commerce, and gemology. He discusses the prices and relative esteem of various gemstones, including ruby, emerald, sapphire, pearls, and other ornamental materials, and considers the factors affecting their valuation, such as color, quality, size, provenance, and rarity. The paper provides insight into Islamic knowledge of gemstones and the economic and cultural importance attached to them, preserving information from Arabic authors concerning the classification, appraisal, and trade of precious stones.

gems, neolithic, stone age, jade, nephrite, rock crystal, turquoise, hematite, pearl, obsidian, chalcedony, archaeology, archaeogemology

Sinkankas: Although by far most objects are made from stone and gemmy materials as chalcedony, obsidian, etc., there is no separate discussion of such materials, instead the author describes and comments on stone objects on the basis of their mode of manufacture, i.e., chipping or grinding, but in the second volume devotes separate chapters to objects made from shell, bone, copper, textiles, pottery, and hematite. Broad discussions of the manifestations of the Stone Age in North America follow with several chapters of concluding remarks. An enormous amount of material on gemstones is in the text but it must be sought for. However, there is a good discussion of the Flint Ridge, Ohio colorful chalcedonies and also remarks on obsidian, rock crystal, turquoise, jade, hematite, pearl, shell, catlinite, amber, etc. The large bibliography contains some references to gem materials.

India.12, Burma.12, corundum, ruby, sapphire, gems

Holland’s annual report summarizes the work of the Geological Survey of India during 1908, including administration, publications, museum and laboratory activities, mineralogy, petrology, palaeontology, stratigraphy, economic geology, and investigations throughout India and Burma. [3–70] Of particular gemological interest is the review of mineral production: the value of jadestone rose markedly from £49,643 in 1907 to £73,400 in 1908, while ruby, sapphire, and spinel fell from £98,258 to £47,954. Holland attributes the latter decline partly to the failure of the Kashmir sapphire workings to repeat the valuable discoveries of 1907, but chiefly to restricted sales from the Burma Ruby Mines district because of depressed gem markets in Europe and America. Diamond production similarly declined from £2,784 to £940, while amber fell slightly from £385 to £364.

corundum, ruby, Burma.12, gems

Colquhoun’s autobiographical travel narrative recounts a career spanning India, Burma, Siam, China, South Africa, the United States, and Central America, combining personal reminiscence with observations on colonial administration, commerce, transport, politics, and exploration. The early chapters describe his family background, his father’s service in India and Afghanistan, and Colquhoun’s own experiences in India and Lower Burma. Particularly important are his accounts of a mission to Siam in 1879, including Bangkok, King Chulalongkorn, the journey to Zimmay (Chiang Mai), the Shan States, Buddhism, missionary activity, and disputes concerning frontier forests. He subsequently explored southern China from Canton toward Yunnan and Bhamo and became a strong advocate of improved communications linking Burma, Siam, and China by caravan routes and railways. Later chapters cover his work as a correspondent during the Franco-Chinese conflict, his views on the annexation and administration of Upper Burma, service during the pacification of the country, and travels in South Africa associated with Cecil Rhodes and the early expansion into Mashonaland. Of particular gemological interest is his first-hand account of the Mogok Ruby Mines district after the British annexation of Upper Burma. He describes Mogok as an isolated mountainous mining region with a turbulent population and records the transfer of the mines to a syndicate headed by the London jeweller Edwin Streeter, together with problems of illicit ruby mining and smuggling and the administrative controversies surrounding the nearby Momeit district. The book thus provides valuable contemporary recollections of late nineteenth-century Burma and Siam as well as an eyewitness perspective on the political and commercial circumstances surrounding the early British administration of the Mogok ruby mines.

corundum, ruby, sapphire, Thailand.12, Cambodia.12, gems

Turpin’s History of the Kingdom of Siam, originally published in French in 1771 and here translated by B.O. Cartwright, presents an eighteenth-century European account of Siam from its early kings through the destruction of Ayutthaya and the rise of Phya Tak (Taksin). Drawing largely upon reports of Catholic missionaries and earlier European writers, it gives particular attention to the reign of King Narai, Constantine Phaulkon, Siam’s relations with France under Louis XIV, the Macassar revolt, the overthrow of Phaulkon and expulsion of the French, and subsequent persecution of Christians. The most important later sections describe Burmese invasions, the capture and destruction of Ayutthaya in 1767, the sufferings of its inhabitants and European residents, and the political fragmentation and recovery that followed under Phya Tak. The final chapters broaden into descriptions of Siam’s neighboring kingdoms and an argument for renewed French commercial involvement in the region. Of gemological interest are numerous contemporary statements on mineral resources and the precious-stone trade. Burma and Ava are described as producing exceptionally fine rubies and sapphires, while Pegu exported gold, silver and precious stones, with “rubies” used broadly to include topaz, sapphire, amethyst and other gems. Laos is said to possess a mine yielding rubies and emeralds, including a celebrated royal emerald reputedly the size of an orange; Cambodia is credited with amethyst, ruby, topaz, chrysolite, agate and bloodstone; and Siam itself is reported to contain agate, diamonds and pearls. The work is valuable both as a near-contemporary European narrative of the political upheavals that ended the Ayutthaya kingdom and as a record of eighteenth-century European beliefs concerning the geography, commerce and gem resources of mainland Southeast Asia.

jade, nephrite, Xinjiang, Khotan, Hotan, China, Chinese jade, gems

A monumental report on Stein’s first expedition to Chinese Turkestan in 1900–1901, presenting the archaeological, geographical and historical results of his explorations in the ancient kingdom of Khotan and surrounding regions. The first volume gives detailed accounts of sites such as Yotkan, Dandan-Uiliq, Niya, Endere and Rawak, together with descriptions of manuscripts, coins, sculptures, paintings, textiles and other antiquities; the second consists of photographic plates, plans and a large map of the Khotan territory. Of particular gemological interest are Stein’s observations on Khotan jade, including the recovery of nephrite from the Yurung-kash and Kara-kash rivers, traditional methods of searching the river gravels, and the historical importance of jade as one of Khotan’s principal exports to China. The work greatly expands upon the preliminary and popular accounts of his expedition and remains a fundamental source for the archaeology, geography, trade and material culture of the southern Tarim Basin, as well as for the historical setting of the celebrated Khotan jade deposits.