corundum, USA.12, North Carolina.12, Montana.12, gems, Mineral Resources of the United States

Kunz reviews the production and discovery of precious stones in the United States during 1894, giving an estimated total domestic production of $132,375 and describing developments in individual gem localities. Particular attention is given to diamonds, including finds in Montana and Wisconsin and the possibility that glacial action transported diamonds into the Great Lakes region from an unidentified northern source. He discusses the important sapphire deposits of Montana, including material from placer gravels and newly recognized occurrences in rock, and reports on turquoise, tourmaline, beryl, quartz, garnet, and other gem materials. The report also records notable specimens, new discoveries, mining activity, and the commercial values of American gems, providing a concise contemporary survey of the developing precious-stone industry of the United States in 1894.