gems, gems general

Sterrett’s annual review surveys the production, occurrence, and trade of gems and precious stones during 1911, with particular emphasis on deposits in the United States. He describes renewed sapphire mining in Montana, promising emerald development at the Turner mine near Shelby, North Carolina, increased interest in agate, moss agate, jasper, and bloodstone, and declining production of tourmaline, kunzite, turquoise, and variscite. Numerous individual occurrences are discussed, including aquamarine, amethyst, chrysoprase, californite (compact vesuvianite and garnet), rhodonite, diamonds, and other ornamental materials, with notes on geology, gem quality, mining, cutting, and commercial value. The report also records diamond production and discoveries in Arkansas and abroad, and provides statistics on U.S. gem production and imports. The reported value of domestic gem production rose from $295,797 in 1910 to $343,692 in 1911, although it remained below the levels of 1907–1909; Sterrett cautions that these figures largely represent the first-sale value of rough material rather than the much higher value of finished gems.