gems general

A comprehensive review of the precious-stone industry for 1902, covering domestic production, new discoveries, mining developments, foreign deposits, gem cutting, and trade. Kunz records U.S. production valued at $338,300, up from $289,050 in 1901, while imports reached $24,753,586. He notes the rapid growth and improving quality of the American lapidary industry and discusses diamonds from Indiana and the possible glacial sources of Midwestern diamonds; Brazilian diamonds and carbonado; expanding diamond production in British Guiana; and occurrences in Borneo, Australia, and elsewhere. Particular attention is given to Montana sapphires, including a newly identified source at Dry Cottonwood Creek; the ruby deposits and mining operations of Upper Burma; American garnets, beryl, topaz, tourmaline, turquoise, opal, quartz varieties, and other ornamental stones; and foreign sapphire and zircon occurrences. The account of Burma includes the geology and working of the Mogok ruby deposits and contemporary production figures, while the turquoise section discusses southwestern deposits, prehistoric workings, and the historical meaning of chalchihuitl, which Kunz concludes could denote jade in southern Mexico and turquoise in northern Mexico. The report concludes with statistics on production and imports and provides a valuable snapshot of the rapidly expanding international gem industry at the beginning of the twentieth century.