gems, early gem trade, Armenia, history

The book written on behalf of the Imperial Academy of Sciences contains a brief historical introduction dedicated to ancient medieval and oriental collections of lapidary stones a translation of three fragments of works on gems found by the author in the manuscript of the famous Armenian historian of the seventeenth century Arakel Tavrizhetsi (1590–1670) as well as the Armenian text of these fragments. Patkanov examines Armenian knowledge and terminology concerning precious stones in the seventeenth century, drawing upon Armenian manuscripts and lapidary traditions. He discusses the Armenian names of numerous gemstones and minerals, their supposed physical characteristics, colors, sources, varieties, values, and methods of identification, together with the medicinal, magical, and talismanic properties traditionally attributed to them. The study compares and explains terminology and preserves information derived from earlier Near Eastern and Armenian traditions concerning diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, pearls, turquoise, and other precious and ornamental materials. The work is an important source for the history of Armenian gemology and lapidary literature and for tracing the transmission of mineralogical and gemstone knowledge through the medieval and early modern Near East.

gems, jade, amphibole jade, China, Xinjiang, Henry Yule, Khotan, Hetian

Yule examines the account of Tokhāristān given by the seventh-century Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Xuanzang (Hwen Thsang), critically reconsidering earlier attempts to identify the principalities, towns, rivers, and mountain regions described in his travels. By comparing Xuanzang’s itinerary with Chinese, Islamic, classical, and contemporary geographical evidence, Yule seeks to reconstruct the historical geography of the upper Oxus region, including Badakhshan, Wakhan, and neighboring territories. Of particular gemological interest is the geographical context of Badakhshan, historically renowned for its balas rubies (spinel) and lapis lazuli. The paper provides an important nineteenth-century attempt to reconcile early Chinese descriptions with the physical and political geography of Central Asia and helps clarify the historical setting of some of its most celebrated gemstone-producing regions. Contains a brief mention of Khotan.

corundum, ruby, Burma.12, gems

Strover surveys the metals and minerals known from Upper Burma, describing their occurrence, geographical distribution, extraction, and economic importance. He discusses mineral resources including gold, silver, copper, lead, iron, coal, petroleum, and precious stones, drawing on contemporary information concerning mines and mineral-producing districts. Of particular gemological importance are his observations on Burmese gemstones and jade, including materials obtained from the northern districts and entering local and Chinese trade. The memorandum provides a useful nineteenth-century overview of Upper Burma’s mineral wealth and contemporary knowledge of the country’s economically important mineral and gemstone resources.

gems, corundum, USA.12, North Carolina.12, Georgia.12

Shepard describes the corundum-bearing region extending through parts of North Carolina and Georgia, discussing the geological occurrence, associated rocks and minerals, mining localities, and physical characteristics of the corundum found there. He records the occurrence of unusually large masses and crystals and gives particular attention to two gigantic corundum crystals, describing their dimensions, form, weight, and mineralogical characteristics. The paper documents the emerging importance of the southeastern United States as a major nineteenth-century source of corundum, then valued chiefly as an abrasive rather than as a gemstone, and provides early geological and mineralogical observations on deposits that also produced crystals of gemological interest.

corundum, Afghanistan.12, Tajikistan.12, spinel, gems

Yule assembles and discusses geographical information concerning the upper Oxus (Amu Darya) and the poorly known regions of the Pamirs, Badakhshan, Wakhan, and adjoining Central Asia. Drawing upon historical sources, contemporary travelers, native reports, and recent exploration, he examines the courses and headwaters of the Oxus, mountain ranges and passes, settlements, routes, political geography, and the identification of places mentioned by earlier writers. Of particular gemological interest is the treatment of Badakhshan, historically renowned for its balas rubies, or spinels, and for lapis lazuli. The paper provides geographical context for the celebrated balas ruby (spinel) mines near the upper Oxus and the lapis lazuli deposits of the Kokcha Valley, helping to clarify the locations and routes associated with two of Central Asia’s most important historic gemstone-producing districts.

jade, jadeite, fei cui, Burma, gems, jade trade, China

Anderson reports on the British expedition from Bhamo in Upper Burma into western Yunnan, describing the route, geography, geology, natural history, peoples, political conditions, commerce, and resources of the region. Particular attention is given to the important overland trade between Burma and China, including the markets and caravan routes connecting Bhamo with Yunnan. Of gemological interest are observations on the mineral products and trade of northern Burma and southwestern China, including jade, which moved through this commercial network from the jade-producing districts of Upper Burma toward Chinese markets. The work provides an important nineteenth-century account of the geography and commerce of the Burma–Yunnan frontier and historical context for the development and organization of the Burmese jade trade.

gems, Ceylon, Sri Lanka, gemstones, travel

A wide-ranging account of travel and life in Ceylon, beginning with the approach from southern India across the Palk Strait and Adam’s Bridge and continuing through the island’s geography, population, customs, religion, agriculture, and commerce. The author discusses the Sinhalese caste system, Buddhist practices and funerary customs, transportation and settlements, and important agricultural products including coffee, cinnamon, and coconuts. Of particular gemological and natural-history interest, the article describes the Gulf of Mannar and its pearl-oyster fishery, placing this long-established industry within the geography and economy of Ceylon. The narrative combines contemporary observations with information drawn from earlier travelers and geographical works and is illustrated with numerous views of the island and its inhabitants.

gems, jade, serpentine, Fischer-Book, Broken Bangle

Rammelsberg presents chemical investigations of several silicate minerals in an effort to clarify their composition and chemical constitution. Using quantitative analyses, he compares the proportions of silica, alumina, magnesia, lime, iron, alkalies, and other constituents and considers how analytical results should be expressed in mineral formulas and used to distinguish related species. The paper forms part of Rammelsberg’s broader work to place mineral classification on a rigorous chemical basis at a time when the compositions and relationships of many complex silicates were still being established. It provides contemporary analytical data relevant to the developing chemical understanding of silicate minerals, including groups containing species of mineralogical and gemological importance.

corundum, inclusions.5, gems, inclusions, history of microscopy

Lea reports microscopic observations of minute crystals enclosed within larger mineral specimens, emphasizing that such inclusions may themselves possess recognizable crystalline forms and provide evidence concerning the formation of their host minerals. He describes microscopic crystals observed in several minerals and considers their shapes, arrangement, and possible mineralogical identity. Of particular gemological importance is the early application of microscopy to the study of inclusions in transparent minerals, demonstrating that internal features could reveal information not obtainable from external examination alone. The paper anticipates the later systematic use of inclusions in gemology for mineral identification and for interpreting the conditions and sequence of crystal growth.

gems, jade, amphibole jade, nephrite, Khotan, Hetian, China, Xinjiang

Johnson gives a detailed account of his 1865 journey from Ladakh across the Karakoram and Kunlun ranges to Ilchí (modern Hotan/Khotan), the capital of Khotan in Chinese Turkestan. He describes the route, mountain passes, rivers, settlements, climate, agriculture, population, government, commerce, and political conditions of a region then little known to European geographers. Of particular gemological importance are his observations on the celebrated Khotan jade industry, including the occurrence and recovery of jade from river deposits and mountain sources and its importance as an article of commerce with China. Johnson’s firsthand observations provide valuable evidence concerning the geography of one of the principal historic source regions for Chinese nephrite and the routes by which jade was obtained and transported.