Page:Theophrastus - History of Stones - Hill (1774).djvu/179

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very different from the Male Cyanus; as alſo the ^[1]Praſius, which is of an æruginous Colour.

LXVI. And the ^[2]Hæmatites, or

cannot ſuppoſe he would compare a Thing to itſelf.

↑ The Praſius is the Stone known by our Jewellers under the Name of the Root of the Emerald; and before mentioned in the Notes on that Gem.

It is a Gem of the lower Claſs, of an impure green, in which there is commonly ſome Tinge of yellow. The Antients diſtinguiſhed it into three Kinds; the one of a plain yellowiſh green, the others variegated with white, and with red. We often ſee it now coloured from the other Gems or coloured Stones on which it is produced, but make no Diſtinctions from thoſe Accidents.

We have, however, as the Antients had, three Kinds of it diſtinguiſhed by Colour, though none of them variegated; they are, the deep green, the yellowiſh green, and the whitiſh yellow; the laſt has very little green in it, and more properly belongs to the Lapis Nephriticus Claſs, as being but ſemi-pellucid.

It is found in the Eaſt and Weſt Indies, and in Germany, Sileſia, Bohemia, and England; but is little valued any where.

Woodward errs in thinking our Jewellers call this the Smaragdo-Praſus: that and the Chryſopraſus are both, indeed, called Species of it, but are much ſuperior to it in Beauty and Value. The Chryſopraſus is a Stone of greater Luſtre and Hardneſs than the Praſius, and is in Colour of an equal Mixture of green and yellow. And the Smaragdo-Praſus, a beautiful Gem, of a graſs green, with the ſlighteſt Caſt imaginable of yellow.

The Diſtinctions between the Emerald, Praſus, Chryſopraſus, and Smaragdo-Praſus, are, indeed, very nice, but they are very juſt. The Antients, we find, were well acquainted with them; and ſome of our Lapidaries are very clear in them at this Time. As the Hiſtory of Gems is at beſt a thing too full of Confuſion and Uncertainty, we ought, of all things, to avoid adding to it, by loſing more of the old Diſtinctions.
↑ The Hæmatites is an Iron Ore, and a very rich one, perhaps the richeſt of all; for there is ſome of it which contains more than half Iron. It is generally of a ferrugineous reddiſh Colour, very heavy, and in Texture reſembling the fibrous Talcs. The Antients had five Kinds of it, ſome of which are now loſt: The

[2] The Praſius is the Stone known by our Jewellers under the Name of the Root of the Emerald; and before mentioned in the Notes on that Gem.

It is a Gem of the lower Claſs, of an impure green, in which there is commonly ſome Tinge of yellow. The Antients diſtinguiſhed it into three Kinds; the one of a plain yellowiſh green, the others variegated with white, and with red. We often ſee it now coloured from the other Gems or coloured Stones on which it is produced, but make no Diſtinctions from thoſe Accidents.

We have, however, as the Antients had, three Kinds of it diſtinguiſhed by Colour, though none of them variegated; they are, the deep green, the yellowiſh green, and the whitiſh yellow; the laſt has very little green in it, and more properly belongs to the Lapis Nephriticus Claſs, as being but ſemi-pellucid.

It is found in the Eaſt and Weſt Indies, and in Germany, Sileſia, Bohemia, and England; but is little valued any where.

Woodward errs in thinking our Jewellers call this the Smaragdo-Praſus: that and the Chryſopraſus are both, indeed, called Species of it, but are much ſuperior to it in Beauty and Value. The Chryſopraſus is a Stone of greater Luſtre and Hardneſs than the Praſius, and is in Colour of an equal Mixture of green and yellow. And the Smaragdo-Praſus, a beautiful Gem, of a graſs green, with the ſlighteſt Caſt imaginable of yellow.

The Diſtinctions between the Emerald, Praſus, Chryſopraſus, and Smaragdo-Praſus, are, indeed, very nice, but they are very juſt. The Antients, we find, were well acquainted with them; and ſome of our Lapidaries are very clear in them at this Time. As the Hiſtory of Gems is at beſt a thing too full of Confuſion and Uncertainty, we ought, of all things, to avoid adding to it, by loſing more of the old Diſtinctions.

[p163-3] The Hæmatites is an Iron Ore, and a very rich one, perhaps the richeſt of all; for there is ſome of it which contains more than half Iron. It is generally of a ferrugineous reddiſh Colour, very heavy, and in Texture reſembling the fibrous Talcs. The Antients had five Kinds of it, ſome of which are now loſt: The

[1]

[2]