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.
[Illustration: A magnificent set of 16 matched sphenes from
Switzerland, gift of Nina Lea, almost encircles a 110-carat
sinhalite (a rare magnesium borate) and a 22-carat kornerupine, both
from Ceylon. The man’s gold ring indicates the sizes of these
unusual stones.]
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.
[Illustration: Exotic gems that represent collectors’ items lie
beside a 3¼-inch-long box of Russian lapis lazuli. The stones are
(left row, from top) a 28-carat andalusite from Brazil, gift of Fred
C. Kennedy, a 10-carat cordierite from Ceylon, a 29-carat apatite
from Burma, and (right row) a 42-carat brazilianite from Brazil, a
13-carat euclase from Brazil, a 29-carat wernerite from Brazil, and
a 61-carat orthoclase from Madagascar.]
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)
[Illustration: Seal of the Smithsonian Institution]