Gems Notes and Extracts Augusto Castellani, Mrs. John Brogden 1871

70 GEMS.Finally, the chrysolite of Spain crystallizes in hexahedralprisms, which are flattened at the edges andterminated at the two poles by cupolas having sixfacets.This Iberian species is a phosphate of lime, andis softer than all the others.Volcanic earths, lava and basalts, often contain irregulargrains which have all the characteristics of thechrysolite nevertheless it isthought to be nothing but;coloured lava, such as is found at Vesuvius.All these substances are cut on a leaden wheel,slightly spread with emery, and then polishedcopper-mill.The gem which we now call chrysoliteon thewas wellknown to, and must have been prized by the ancients ;as I have had the opportunity of seeing some, set ingold and very well preserved, and I even possessedsome, engraved in the best periodof ancient art.Nevertheless, we shall perhaps always remain ignorantof the name which that stone then had, as also of theplaces where it was procured.XXXI.CHRYSOPRASE.THIS is a rather common calcedony. Its name, fromthe Greek words xprtros, Trpdo-ov,has been givenit onaccount of the beautiful leek-green colour, or greenverging on yellow, which distinguishes it.