corundum, USA.12, North Carolina.12, Montana.12, gems, synthetic corundum.7, Thailand.12, Burma.12, x-rays

Kunz surveys developments in precious stones during 1896, beginning with notable discoveries and events of the year and then treating diamonds in considerable detail, including American occurrences, the South African mines and their production, mining methods, trade, cutting, import duties, and the growing diamond-cutting industry in the United States. He discusses the occurrence and artificial production of ruby, with descriptions of the ruby mines of Siam and Burma, and gives particular attention to new sapphire discoveries in Montana, including the Yogo/Fergus County deposits. Other sections record American occurrences of andalusite, kyanite, tourmaline, turquoise, garnet, quartz and rock crystal, amethyst, chrysoprase, chalcedony, plasma, moss agate, and opal, together with new mineral discoveries. Kunz also discusses gem collections and exhibitions, experiments on the behavior of gems under Röntgen rays, and contemporary work on artificial production of precious stones. The report concludes with statistical tables of United States gem production, valued at $113,621 for 1896, historical production figures, and imports of diamonds and other precious stones, providing a detailed picture of both the scientific and commercial state of gemology at the end of the nineteenth century.