PRECIOUS STONES IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11398, 15 April 1899, Page 6

PRECIOUS STONES IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

The Eohunga correspondentof Ihe Adelaide Observer writes: —

A stone, which, should it prove to Ire a diamond, is<tlie biggest specimen of that gem ever known to have been procured, has just been brought into the Biggs Fldt'pbst.office to be : weighed, and it balanced-the gold scales at lok- srl\vt 18gr, being an equivalent to 1306 S-lOth carats. It was discovered some-11 miles-from Echunga by Captain'H. MD. De Lacey, V.C.K.L.H., diploma Freiberg. The stone: is of a faint neutral' tint, which its owner states greatly enhances its value, as gems of this colour possess the peculiar pro.perly of concentrating within themselves the rays of light, * and emitting them with a v/oudcrful brilliancy arid! a power almost dazzling. Captain De Laeey has been engaged in prospecting the Echunga and surrounding districts for several years, and at Balhannab some time ago he discovered what he believed to be the deposits of diamondiferou3 drift, and also several. small diamonds. Having carefully studied the indications and geological details of South Australian diamondifcrous formations—of which he is of opinion there are more than one, and' that they reem to have been caused by two distinct actions and during separate periods—he finds that, while differing in many essentials from the South African formations, they greatly resemble the East European and American characteristics. Having satisfied himself upon the correctness of bis theories, Captain De Lacey continued his investigations, which have resulted in the discovery of the present stone ; which it is stated has successfully withstood such tests as can be applied in the bush, and is now about to be submitted to more conclusive experiments qr proof. In the event of its, proving a diamond tho approximate value of this gem as compared with the two largest diamonds previously known to exist provides a very interesting "calculation. First, there is the " Braganza," one of the Crown^ jewels of Portugal—and although experts' opinions differ with reference to this gem, until it has been conclusively proved not to be a diamond, and struck off the list, it must lie allowed the ber.rfit of the doubt—which ia uncut, and weighs 16S'O carats, with an estimated value of £5.000,000. Then the "Excelsior," found by Captain 15. .Tovganson, at the Jagerfountain uiines, and which is at present in tlie Bank of England, and weighs 997 A carats, the price asked for it by its, owners being £1.000.00Q, and for. which- £500.000 and £600,000 lmv.6 been repeatedly offered and refused^ In these circumstances it is scarcely surprising that a lather unusual sensation of agreeable^ excitement was experienced by tlre-iiirec individuals at present aware of the existence of this South Australian stone, and it is greatly to be hoped that Captain De Lacey-'s very confident and ranguine views may be realised. Probably then the present apathetic mode pursued in the development of South Australian mineral resources would receive as radical and speedy in alteration as sas the case in the Transvaal, where, as is well known, valuable gems have been picked out of the mud M'alls'of the - ilioinestoads, while the farm upon which the K.imberley mine is now situated actually clianged.lmnd:? for tlie sum of £7, with an old i saddle and bridle thrown in.