PRECIOUS STONES IN QUEENSLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2008, 18 August 1892, Page 14

PRECIOUS STONES IN QUEENSLAND.

Surprises continue to come from Queensland (says the Leader) concerning the wealth and diversity of its mineral resources. Mount Morgan has fallen off to some extent in exceptional richness, but tho confidence of the miner is sustained by tho sensational finds reported from fields farther north. Nor is discovery confined to auriferous treasure alone. There are sanguine people who contemplate that the wonders of the diamond mines at tho Cape will yet be rivalled if not surpassed on Queensland soil. Hitherto the prospect has been one of promise, rather than of anything approaching realisation, but recently very favourable reports have been received from a district called the Gem country, where, if rumour does not lie, precious stones may be picked up as 'if ib were the fabled valley of Sinbad's adventure. The locality is situated about 190 miles from Rockhampton, on tho Central line of railway. In the drift or wash, which covers an area of about 60 acres, besides forming the bed of all gullies, there are to be found many fine gems, of whose quality a Brisbane jeweller gives au enthusiastic report. The gems occur in the drift in hexagonal pyramidical crystals of sapphire, many being fractured and broken into irregular masses with angles rounded off by friction, while others retain fairly sharp angles. The colours, " blue," include the true bleue dc roi which appears most abundant, indigo blue, and a lovely peacock tint, which, under the lapidary's skill yields a very beautiful gem of remarkable brilliancy. The paler and very light blue varieties, so common iv the drifts of Ceylon, are conspicuous by their absence. Green sapphires (the Oriental emerald) occur in various shades, from light verte to deep olive, with many crystals that yield gems of singular beauty. Yellow sapphires (the Oriental topaz) also occur, but appear to be less abundant than their darker eibters. A deep golden coloured stone of this variety has yielded a gem of 2 12-16 th carats weight of exceptional beauty, and displaying scintillation oE light equal to the lustre of a diamond. Red sapphire (the Oriental ruby) has not yet been found of any size to deserve special notice ; but the occurreu.ee of very small crystals of this gem iv the finer drift indicates that

larger specimens may be met with. Zircons (or hyacinth) appear to be fairly abundant, and vary in colour or tint from ruby red to garnet, pink, yellow, cinnamon, and white. The drift also affords considerable quantity of corundum of extraordinary size, many specimens retaining the perfect form of sapphire crystals, but quite opaque, and, as gems, of no commercial value. Quantity as well as quality is also obtainable, two loads of drift washed with rude appliances yielding excellent results. A "lead" of cxtraordiuary richness is hinted at, and a conßdeut opinion expressed that extensive gem deposits in the early alluvium underlying the more recent surface drift might be opened up at moderate cost. With such brilliant prospects ahead Queensland depression should vanish like mist before the morning sun.