Part 5

The Chinese and Japanese prize jade highly. In their countries, tradition has assigned to jade medicinal and spiritual values, and has associated with it the cardinal virtues of charity, modesty, courage, justice, and wisdom. As a consequence, these peoples long ago developed the carving of jade as a high art. Among the magnificent Chinese jade carvings in the National Gem Collection are 130 pieces produced mostly during the Ching Dynasty (1644-1912), when the art of jade carving was at its peak. Many of these jades were carved in imitation of the revered bronze ceremonial vessels of ancient times. This collection was presented to the Smithsonian Institution in 1959 by Mr. Edmund C. Monell in behalf of the estate of his mother, Mrs. Maude Monell Vetlesen of New York.

CHARACTERISTICS OF SOME COMMON GEMS

Approximate average of (1) hardness (2) specific gravity (4) Dispersion (3) refractive index (5) Durability Species (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Usual color range

Beryl 7¾ 2.70 1.58 Low High Green (emerald), blue-green (aquamarine), pink (morganite), colorless (goshenite) Chrysoberyl 8½ 3.71 1.75 Low High Yellow, green, brown Corundum 9 4.00 1.77 Low High Red (ruby), various (sapphire) Diamond 10 3.52 2.42 High High Colorless Garnet group 7½ 3.70- 1.74- Medium High Yellow, red, green, brown 4.16 1.89 to high Jade 6½ 2.96 1.62 None High Green, white (nephrite) Jade 7 3.33 1.66 None High Green, white (jadeite) Opal 6 2.10 1.45 None Low Red, dark gray, orange, white, with or without varicolored fire Pearl 3½ 2.71 None None Low White Peridot 6½ 3.34 1.68 Low Medium Yellow-green, brownish green Quartz 7 2.65 1.55 Low High Purple (amethyst), yellow (citrine), colorless (rock crystal) Spinel 8 3.60 1.72 Low High Shades of red, green, blue, violet Spodumene 7 3.18 1.66 Low Low Colorless, pink, yellow, green Topaz 8 3.54 1.63 Low Medium Colorless, sherry, pink, blue Tourmaline 7 3.06 1.63 Low High Wide range, except bright red Zircon 7 4.02 1.81 High High Almost colorless, blue, brown, green, yellow

GEMSTONES FOR THE COLLECTOR

A number of mineral species have produced cut gemstones that fulfill every necessary requirement of beauty, durability, and rarity, but their popularity and commercial success have been sharply limited because of insufficient supply. In some cases of even adequate supply such gemstones do not compete with other, more plentiful kinds that exhibit the same characteristics. The scarcity of these minerals does not diminish their standing as potential gem material—it merely points up the effect of accidental natural distribution of these species.

Among the rarer minerals that produce good gemstones are cordierite, benitoite, euclase, phenakite, beryllonite, willemite, wernerite, danburite, datolite, axinite, brazilianite, andalusite, sillimanite, kyanite, kornerupine, enstatite, diopside, epidote, sphene, sinhalite, and orthoclase. Willemite, a rare zinc silicate found in only a few localities, is typical of these rarer minerals. The famous zinc mines at Franklin, N. J., produced a few large gemmy crystals of willemite, and some fine gemstones were cut from some of these. Willemite’s borderline hardness of 5 to 5½ and its extreme rarity effectively eliminate it from the gem market, but the collector who is able to obtain a good stone of this material is indeed fortunate.

Some mineral species, although beautiful when cut, and prized by collectors, are entirely too soft, are too easily cleaved, or have some other physical weakness that renders them useless as commercial gemstones. Sphalerite, apatite, fluorite, calcite, cerussite, zincite, and hematite are included in this group. Sphalerite is typical; it produces brilliant and colorful gemstones that hold their own among other stones of great beauty. Unfortunately, this zinc sulfide, with a hardness of 3½ to 4, is so soft and cleaves so readily that it is very difficult to cut properly, and it cannot be used in jewelry.

7 SOME NOTABLE GEMS IN THE COLLECTION

The Smithsonian’s collection of gems continues to grow and improve rapidly, and it changes character constantly as important new gemstones are added and less important ones are retired. Approximately one-third of the gems in the collection in 1965 are itemized in the following list. Included are some of the largest gems of each kind, some of the more interesting stones, and some small gems notable for the places from which they came. Though listed by species and size, some of the larger stones are not included, and neither are most cabochons, rough opal, beads, carvings, and spheres. The descriptions listed include, in order, weight in carats; color; popular name or other description, if any; place of origin; and U. S. National Museum catalog number and name of donor. Gems in the Lea and Roebling collections usually are indicated by the letters “L” and “R.”

DIAMOND 127, colorless (_The Portuguese_), Brazil (3398) 44.5, blue (_The Hope_), India (3551, Winston) 18.3, yellow (_The Shephard_), South Africa (3406) 2.9, pink, Tanzania (3772, De Young) CORUNDUM: Ruby 50, red-violet (a star), Ceylon (173, L) 34, red (a star), Ceylon (1922, L) CORUNDUM: Sapphire 330, blue (_Star of Asia_), Burma (3688) 316, blue (_Star of Artaban_), Ceylon (2231, Ingram) 93, yellow, Burma (3549) 52, yellow, Burma (3419) 40, blue (a star), Ceylon (174, L) 35, yellow-brown, Ceylon (2147, L) 26, gray (a star), Ceylon (3902) 26, colorless, Ceylon (2016, L) 25, blue (4-starred), Ceylon (3923, Krandall) 22, yellow-orange, Ceylon (3875, L) 16, colorless, Ceylon (3581, L) BERYL: Emerald 157, green, India (3601) 117, green, Colombia (4158, Erickson) 27, green, Colombia (3922) 17, green (3920, MacVeagh) 7, green, North Carolina (3075, L) 4.6, green (a cat’s-eye), Colombia (2256, R) BERYL: Aquamarine 1000, green, Brazil (3889, Evyan) 264, blue, Russia (3606, Neal) 187, blue, Brazil (3683) 126, blue, Brazil (4159, Erickson) 71, pale blue, Ceylon (3172, L) 66, pale blue-green, Maine (2148, L) 15, blue-green, Idaho (2249, Montgomery) 14, blue, Connecticut (779) 10, blue, North Carolina (776, L) BERYL: Morganite 236, pink, Brazil (3780, Ix) 122, pale pink, California (1988, R) 80, pale pink, Brazil (4190, R) 64, pink, Brazil (3721, R) 56, pink, Madagascar (2223, R) 51, pink, Brazil (3623) BERYL: Beryl 2054, green-gold, Brazil (3725, R) 1363, green, Brazil (3916) 914, green, Brazil (3919) 578, green, Brazil (3227, R) 133, yellow, Madagascar (1977, L) 114, yellow-green, Brazil (2245, R) 98, pale green, Brazil (3949, Cutter) 62, colorless (goshenite), Brazil (3366) 46, gold, Madagascar (2121, L) 44, gold (a cat’s-eye), Madagascar (3248) 40, pale green, Connecticut (1037, L) 40, yellow-green, North Carolina (2260, Roebling) 20, brown (a star), Brazil (3355, L) TOPAZ 7725, yellow, Brazil (3976) 3273, blue, Brazil (3633) 1469, yellow-green, Brazil (3891) 685, pale blue, Brazil (3003) 398, pale blue, Russia (3400, R) 235, colorless, Colorado (3309, L) 187, colorless, Brazil (3612, Cutter) 171, champagne, Madagascar (3890) 155, blue, Russia (262, L) 146, pale blue, Texas (3625, L) 129, sherry, Brazil (3550) 94, orange, Brazil (3401, R) 54, blue, Brazil (2219, L) 51, colorless, Japan (268) 44, blue, Maine (2047, L) 41, orange, Brazil (2174, L) 34, gold, Brazil (2046, L) 34, deep pink, Brazil (2232, L) 24, pale blue, New Hampshire (3307, L) 18, rose pink, Brazil (3402, R) 17, blue, California (3679, Ware) 15, sherry, Colorado (318, L) TOURMALINE: Rubellite 111, pink, Manchuria (3173, R) 62, pink, Brazil (3411, R) 51, magenta, Brazil (4160, Erickson) 35, pink, Brazil (2254, R) 34, pink, Brazil (3148, R) 30, pink, Madagascar (3409, R) 18, pink (a cat’s-eye), California (3786, Lea) 18, pink, Maine (1109, L) 15, pink, California (3412, R) TOURMALINE: Tourmaline 173, champagne, Mozambique (3590, R) 125, champagne, Mozambique (3576, R) 123, green, Mozambique (3575, R) 110, green, Brazil (4197) 104, rose, Mozambique (3256, L) 76, dark green (a cat’s-eye), Brazil (3599, L) 60, blue-green, Brazil (3410, R) 58, green, Maine, (1108, L) 53, green (a cat’s-eye), Brazil (3119, L) 48, red and green, California (3363) 42, yellow, Brazil (2251, R) 42, brown, Ceylon (3245, L) 40, red-brown, Brazil (2097, R) 40, green, Madagascar (4081, R) 34, red-brown, Brazil (2253, L) 31, rose-brown, Brazil (3416, R) 26, blue (indicolite), Brazil (3298, R) 20, blue-green, Madagascar (2032, L) 18, yellow-green, Elba (3368, R) 18, green, South Africa (2095, L) 15, yellow, Brazil (3415, R) SPINEL 46, pale purple, Ceylon (2180, L) 36, indigo, Burma (3685) 34, red, Burma (3354, L) 30, pink-violet, Ceylon (2165, L) 30, violet, Burma (3344, L) 26, blue-gray, Burma (3593, L) 22, blue-violet, Ceylon (2247, R) 22, rose-brown, Ceylon (2166, L) ZIRCON 118, brown, Ceylon (2236, R) 106, brown, Thailand (3568) 103, blue, Indochina (2222, R) 98, yellow-brown, Ceylon (2237, R) 76, red-brown, Burma (3068, L) 64, brown, Indochina (3397, R) 48, colorless, Ceylon (3554, L) 29, blue, Indochina (3394, R) 23, green, Ceylon (2233, R) 21, tan, Australia (1887, L) SPODUMENE: Kunzite 830, deep violet, Brazil (3940) 336, deep violet, Brazil (3942, Nelson) 297, deep violet, Brazil (3941, Nelson) 177, violet, California (3797, American Gem Society) 25, pale violet, Madagascar (1979, L) SPODUMENE: Spodumene 327, yellow, Brazil (3396, R) 256, yellow, Brazil (3429, R) 71, yellow, Madagascar (3698, L) 69, yellow-green, Brazil (3885, R) PERIDOT 310, olive green, Egypt (3398, R) 287, olive green, Burma (3705) 46, olive green, Egypt (1978, L) 23, olive green, Arizona (3620, L) GARNET: Almandine 175, red (a star), Idaho (3670) 67, red-brown (a star), Idaho (3560, L) 41, red-brown, Madagascar (2137, L) 26, red-brown, Idaho (3423, L) GARNET: Demantoid 10.4 green, Russia (2175) GARNET: Grossular 64, orange-brown, Ceylon (493, L) GARNET: Rhodolite 25, rose-violet, Tanzania (4080, L) 6.4, violet, North Carolina (460, L) GARNET: Spessartine 109, red, Brazil (4203) 40, orange, Virginia (147, L) 26, orange, Virginia (3597, L) QUARTZ: Amethyst 1362, purple, Brazil (3879) 183, purple, Brazil (1272, L) 62, purple, Brazil (3162, Capps) 61, purple, Brazil (3914, Cutter) 56, purple, Brazil (3165, Capps) 54, purple, Pennsylvania (1299, L) 45, pale purple, North Carolina (1298, Lea) 36, purple, Pennsylvania (1283, L) 33, pale purple, North Carolina (1288, Lea) 27, purple, Arizona (3291, R) 23, purple, Maine (1271, L) 19, purple, Virginia (1301, L) QUARTZ: Citrine 1180, golden brown, Brazil (1870, L) 783, light golden brown, Brazil (3640) 278, golden brown, Brazil (3732, Cutter) 265, light golden brown, Brazil (2041, Roebling) 218, golden brown, Brazil (4199, Cutter) 169, golden brown, Australia (1373, L) 143, yellow, Colorado (456, L) 120, golden brown, Brazil (2116, L) 115, golden brown, Brazil (3932) 91, yellow, Brazil (3615, Cutter) 55, light golden brown, Maine (2178, L) 48, yellow, Brazil (3915, Cutter) 43, yellow, Brazil (3719, Cutter) QUARTZ: Rock Crystal 7000, colorless, Brazil (3957, R) 625, colorless (a star), New Hampshire (3125, Burroughs) 350, colorless, North Carolina (1398, L) QUARTZ: Rose Quartz 375, pink, Brazil (3592, L) 84, pink, Brazil (3421) 49, pink, Brazil (3420, R) QUARTZ: Smoky Quartz 4500, pale smoky, California (3738, L) 1695 smoky, Brazil (3697, L) 785, pale smoky, Colorado (1335, L) 284, pale smoky, North Carolina (1340, Lea) 163, pale smoky, Colorado (1336, L) 145, smoky, Scotland (3079, R) CHRYSOBERYL: Alexandrite 66, green to red, Ceylon (2042, L) 17, green to red, Ceylon (3407, R) 11, green to red, Ceylon (2200, Walcott) CHRYSOBERYL: Chrysoberyl 172, gray-green (a cat’s-eye), Ceylon (3924) 121, green (_The Maharani_, a cat’s-eye), Ceylon (3642) 46, green-yellow, Brazil (1923, L) 32, brown, Ceylon (2151, L) OPAL 155, white with fire, Australia (3285, Roebling) 83, white with fire, Australia (3300, R) 58, black with fire, Australia (3960, R) 56, colorless with fire, Mexico (2240, R) 54, black with fire, Australia (3962) 44, black with fire, Australia (3284, R) 39, pale yellow-orange with fire, Brazil (3637) 38, black with fire, Australia (3961) 30, black with fire, Australia (3405, R) 24, black with fire, Australia (1897, L) 22, orange with fire, Mexico (2106, L) 22, orange with fire, Mexico (2028, L) 21, yellow with fire, Mexico (2111, L) 15, orange with fire, Mexico (2096, L) 11, orange with fire, Mexico (3886, Lewis) OTHER, LESS-KNOWN SPECIES Albite: 43, white (a cat’s-eye), Burma (3311, L) Amblygonite: 63, yellow, Brazil (4079, Lea) 20, yellow, Burma (3562, R) Andalusite: 28, brown, Brazil (3619, Kennedy) 14, green-brown, Brazil (3364, L) Apatite: 29, yellow-green, Burma (3247, Lea) 29, yellow, Mexico (3594, L) 15, colorless, Burma (3720, R) 9, yellow-green, Canada (3122, R) 8.8, pale blue, Ceylon (3639) 5.4, green, Madagascar (3676, Durand) Axinite: 9.4, brown, Mexico (3787, R) 9, brown, Mexico (3773, L) Barite: 61, colorless, England (3349) Benitoite: 7.6, blue, California (3387, R) Beryllonite: 5, colorless, Maine (423) Brazilianite: 42, yellow, Brazil (3083, L) Calcite: 46, gold-brown, Mexico (3305) Cassiterite: 10, yellow-brown, Bolivia (3250) Cobaltocalcite: 3.3, 3.9, pink, Spain (3724, L) Cordierite: 16, blue, Ceylon (3882) 10, indigo, Ceylon (3580, L) 9.4, blue, Ceylon (3881) Danburite: 18, yellow, Burma (3345, L) 7.9, colorless, Japan (3801, L) Datolite: 5.4, colorless, Massachusetts (3876, Boucot) 5, colorless, Massachusetts (3283, Sinkankas) Diopside: 133, black (a star), India (3977) 24, black (a cat’s-eye), India (3956, Lea) 14, black (a cat’s-eye), India (3880) 11, green, Madagascar (2264, R) 6.8, yellow, Italy (3634) 4.6, yellow, Burma (3346, L) 2.2, pale green, New York (572, L) 1.6, green (chrome diopside), Finland (3693) Enstatite: 11, brown, Ceylon (3638) 8.1, brown, Ceylon (2294, R) Epidote: 3.9, brown, Austria (579) Euclase: 13, green, Brazil (3214, R) 9, yellow, Brazil (3215, R) 8.9, yellow, Brazil (2181, L) 3.7, blue-green, Brazil (3388, R) Fluorite: 354, pale yellow, Illinois (3877) 125, green, New Hampshire (3294) 117, green, Africa (2153) 63, yellow, Illinois (3595, L) 33, colorless, Illinois (3626) 8.5, pink, Switzerland (3730, R) Friedelite: 12, red-brown, New Jersey (3013, D’Ascenzo) Gadolinite: 8.6, black, Texas (587, L) Idocrase: 3.5, brown, Italy (4179, R) Kyanite: 11, blue, Brazil (3557, L) 9.1, green, Brazil (3558, L) 3.7, blue, North Carolina (364, Bowman) Kornerupine: 22, brown, Ceylon (3706, Lea) 11, brown, Madagascar (3567, L) 7.6, green, Madagascar (3782) Labradorite: 11, pale yellow, Utah (3121) Microlite: 3.7, brown, Virginia (3588, Lea) Oligoclase: 6, colorless, North Carolina (404, L) Orthoclase: 250, yellow, Madagascar (3878) 105, pale green (a cat’s-eye), Ceylon (3883) 61, yellow, Madagascar (1838, L) 26, gray (a cat’s-eye), Ceylon (3579, Lea) 23, white (a star), Ceylon (3578, L) Petalite: 11, colorless, South-West Africa (3096) Phenakite: 22, colorless, Russia (3739) 10, colorless, Brazil (2263, R) Phosphophyllite: 5, green, Bolivia (3950, Roebling) Pollucite: 9, colorless, Maine (2056, L) 7, colorless, Connecticut (3802, R) Proustite: 9.9, red, Germany (4082, L) Rhodizite: 0.5, colorless, Madagascar (3219, Canfield) Rhodochrosite: 9.5, pink, South Africa (4189, L) Samarskite: 6.6, black, North Carolina (588, L) Scheelite: 37, colorless, California (3701, L) 12, gold, Mexico (3803, R) Scorodite: 2.6, purple, South-West Africa (3793) Sillimanite: 5.9, black (a cat’s-eye), South Carolina (3600, L) Sinhalite: 110, brown, Ceylon (3587) 44, brown, Ceylon (3548, L) Sphalerite: 73, yellow-brown, Utah (3556) 69, yellow-brown, Utah (3362) 60, yellow-green, New Jersey (3874, Roebling) 48, yellow, Mexico (2167, L) 46, yellow, Spain (3707, L) Sphene: 0.8-9.3, sixteen stones, gold, Switzerland (2043, Nina Lea) 8.5, brown, New York (550) 5.6, yellow-brown, Mexico (3290) 5.2, yellow-brown, Mexico (3292) Staurolite: 3, dark red-brown, Brazil (3795) Tektite: 23, brown, Czechoslovakia (681, L) Wernerite: 288, colorless, Burma (3783) 30, colorless (a cat’s-eye), Burma (3301, L) 29, pale yellow, Brazil (2098, L) 17, pink (a cat’s-eye), Ceylon (3238, Roebling) 12, pink, Burma (3674, L) Willemite: 12, orange-yellow, New Jersey (1898, L) 11, orange-yellow, New Jersey (4187, Lea) Zincite: 20, red, New Jersey (3386, R)

Transcriber’s Notes

—Silently corrected a few typos.

—Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook is public-domain in the country of publication.

—In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by _underscores_.