gems, India, ornamental stones, lapis lazuli, agate, chalcedony, jade, nephrite

Sinkankas: Written upon request of Professor Edward Hull (1829–1917), who wanted information for his forthcoming book on such stones; however, the latter was published in 1872 (which see) without Ball’s contribution. General remarks on stone uses, structures, properties, durability, industry, etc., with specifics on deposits of granites, gneisses, basalt, serpentine, steatite, marble, gypsum, alabaster, limestone, sandstone, quartzite, laterite, slates and ornamental stones (pp. 109–110), the last mentioning the Taj Mahal at Agra and its famous stone inlays of lapis, chalcedonies, marbles, slate, and nephrite.