Adularia or moon-stone is very abundant in some parts of the interior of Ceylon, particularly in the neigh bourhood of Kandy. where it is occasionally the pnalomi nating ingredient of the rock. It is a variety of felspar, a form of orthoclase, and of little value.
Agate, the axaesr of the Creeks and Akeck of the Arabs, is found in great variety and abundance in many parts of India. Some of the agates and other lancers minerals in the amygdaluid rocks on the banks of the Seena river, between Sholapur and Ahrnadnaspir,aro of great size and In profusion, but the most arc brought from Itajpipla and Cambay.
Anther is largely obtained in many parts of Europe, and in Independent Burma, from mar. at Ilakong or 1'hyendwen, near the sources of the hyendwen.
Antethyd.
Jaballakum, . . AKA& 5Iartas, . . UALAT.
Amethyste, . FR. I . Poo.
GR. Arnett's°, . . roar.. Sr.
Aniatista, . . . Ir. Sapndi kalln, . TAY.
Amethystus, . . Ltr.
The amethyst Is mentioned in Exodus arra 19, and rtitx. 12, but under this term two different minerals are known, viz. the common amethyst, • quartro•e mineral found in arnygd•lold trap rocks in all countries, but in some quantity amongst the volcank rocks of the Dekhau. Some beautiful specimens of common ame thyst crystals occur in dykes of quartz near Bowenpilly, at Secunderabad. It is rock crystal coloured with iron and manganese. Its colour is of every shade of purple violet ; some of these are valued, for it is almost the only stone that can be worn with mournings. When the colour of a specimen has to be equalized, it is placed in a mixture of sand and iron filings, and exposed to a moderate heat. The oriental amethyst of jewellers is also of a purple colour, but is an extremely rare variety of corundum. Its colour can be destroyed by heat, and its purity then resembles that of the diamond.
Beryl. Some beryls are quite colourless,' hut green, blue, or yellow are prevailing tints. The finest beryls were described by Pliny as those which are of a clear sea green colour—qui viridatem puri maids ; hence crystals of clear tints of sea-green or sky-blue are called aqua marinas or aqua marines. Beryl occurs in considerable abundance at Kangium, in the Tanjore collectorate of S. India, in the Siberian Altai range, also in Khotan, Ilchi, and other Chinese provinces. In the United States very large beryls have been obtained, but seldom transparent crystals. Numbers of the Hindus and
Muhammadans of Southern India wear them pierced as armlets and pendants, and call them bynames given also to the emerald,—aszamarrud, zabrjad, and panna. The colours most esteemed in Northern India are the zababi, next the saidi (from the town of Saidi in Egypt) raihani, new emeralds ; fastiki, old emeralds, which they imagine have completed a growth of 20 years ; salki, zangari (colour of verdigris), kirasi, and sabuni. Dr. Irvine .says (Gem Med. Top.) prismatic corun dum or chrysoberyl is found among the Tora Hills near Rajmahal, on the Bunas, in irregularly rolled pieces, small, and generally of a light green colour. These stones are considered by the natives as emeralds, and pass under the name of panes ; but the natives are aware that they are still softer than the real emerald of India.
Cat's Eye.
Bel occhio, . . . IT. 1 Zmilampis, . . . LAT.
Beli oculus, . . . LAT. Mata-kuching, . MALAY. Zmilaces, . . . . „ Chashrn-i-maidah, PERS.
Cat's eye is chiefly found in Ceylon, but specimens are also obtained from Quilon and Cochin, and in the neighbourhood of Madras ; the site of the last, however, has not been traced. It is brought from Burma. It is a transparent quartz full of minute fibres of asbestos, and is cut in a highly convex form. It is of a yellow hue, slightly tinged with green. The cat's eye is often set in rings, and is much valued in India ; those seen in the Moulmein market are not much valued. A small one may be purchased for two rupees, and one of ordinary size for five ; while ten rupees is the highest price given for the beat. Mr. Edward Streeter (p. 167) distinguishes the true or chrysoberyl cat's eye from the quartz cat's eye. The former is a rare variety of the chrysoberyl.
Chrysolite and peridot are silicates of magnesia with .., iron, and chrysolite is also a yellowish-green corundum. The name is also given to a coloured variety of rock crystal. Oriental peridot is of a very pleasing, yellowish green colour, and is a very beautiful gem. It was at one time considered of more value than the diamond. Mr. Streeter says\ the chrysolite of the ancients is now termed * topaz. It is a corundum formed of alumina, coloured golden-yellow by oxide of iron.