Page:A treatise on diamonds and precious stones including their history Natural and commercial.djvu/137

 SECT. III.

On the Ruby—Spinelle and Balais.

Spinelle, when perfect, is a gem of great value and scarcity; its color is a fine, full carmine or rose red, which varies in intensity; in hardness and specific gravity it is inferior to the oriental ruby, and it differs also in some other characters, which will be described in the Appendix.

is found in Ceylon and Pegu, of an octahedral form. Small crystals, from one to two grains, are very common, but stones of three carats and upwards are rare, and may be considered nearly of equal value with the oriental ruby.