gems, gems general

Stoddard reviews the production, trade, and principal developments in gems and precious stones during 1919. U.S. production was valued at $111,763, about 5% above 1918, with increased output of tourmaline, turquoise, quartz, garnet, spinel, variscite, jet, and fossil coral; tourmaline showed the largest gain. Montana remained the leading producing state, chiefly through sapphire, followed by Maine, Arizona, Nevada, and California. Particular attention is given to the Yogo sapphire mine in Montana; the Arkansas diamond field, where about 5,000 diamonds were estimated to have been recovered since 1906; and the rapidly expanding American diamond market and cutting industry. Imports of precious stones excluding pearls reached a record $91,958,830, reflecting exceptionally high demand and sharply rising diamond prices. Extensive discussion covers South African diamond production and the increasing control of sales by the major producers, as well as new diamond discoveries in the Gold Coast. Other notable subjects include the reported rediscovery of the Chivor emerald mines in Colombia, renewed production of jet in Utah, and a remarkable large black opal associated with the Nevada opal fields.