SHOWN IN LONDON

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 120, 17 November 1936, Page 11

SHOWN IN LONDON

DEVONSHIRE EMERALD

The Trustees of the "British Museum have acquired on loan from the Duke of De- -nshire for exhibition in the] Mineral Gallery of the Natural History | Museum the "Devonshire" emerald which was given to the sixth Duke by Pedro the First, Emperor of Brazil, who came to Europe after his abdication in 1831, says "Th,e Times." This famous stone is the largest known crystal of emerald from the famous mines of Muzo, Boyaca, Colombia. Hexagonal in shape, with a fiat face at its upper end, it measures about two inches in length and the same in cross-section, and weighs 276.8 grams or nearly, 10 ounces. Its colour is the deep grassgreen characteristic of the true emerald. Like nearly all the material from these mines it is extensively flawed. A blow has caused a fracture across one corner, with the result that if the crystal be illuminated from underneath this sector receives no light and disappears from sight.

The opportunity afforded by the ] acquisition of the "Devonshire" emerald \ has led to the selection of some of the most notable crystals for special exhibitioji in a wall-case adjoining the entrance to the gallery. So forceful is the colour Of the ( "Devonshire" emerald that it was found necessary to provide it with a separate recess in the slope as otherwise it detracted from the appearance of its neighbours. On the bottom level are shown two of the mineral treasures which were given to the museum by John Ruskin in 1887: the "Colenso" diamond named after the first Bishop of Natal, and the "Edwardes," named after the great soldier and statesman, Sir Herbert Edwardes. "With them is a large waterworn mass of ruby spinel.

~Ths International cable news apncarltic in thla issue is published hy acranwmeut with th» Australian Prpss Association and tbe Sun, ■'■HtraltV' News Office. Limited.