classify chrysolite and sandastros as
soft gems, following Pliny who says that they are too soft to take a
polish, especially the material from Thebes, then some of these stones
may be classed, properly, as gems. Nevertheless any mineral that is too
soft to take a polish cannot be regarded as a true gem. Goldsmiths
sometimes take these stones when they are naturally smooth and suitably
shaped and set them in jewelry and rings. Apothecaries commonly use
them in the place of hyacinthus, lapis lazuli, smaragdus and carbunculus. Certain painters use the violet-colored ones.39
Alabandicus lapis belongs
to the first genus provided that it is not the same as Alabandian
garnet. Pliny writes that it melts in a fire and can be poured and used
as a glass. It is black with a tendency toward a purple hue. It occurs
in Caria near Alabanda and Miletus.40
Stones
of the second genus do not have as many colors and are rarely pleasing
to the eye. They are commonly white, gray or light yellow. Since
39 This passage refers to fluorite (fluores); Agricola was the first to use this name, in Bermannus, page 466,
Ancon. "----------. What is this Bermannus?
Bermannus. "They are stones similar to gems but not so hard and called by our
miners fluores. This is not inappropriate, I would say, since the fire melts them and
makes them as fluid as ice in the sun. They are found with a variety of pleasing
colors. Xaevius. "Theophrastus would call them L· alppoos, i.e., 'to flow together in the
earth.' This red fluorite, if I may now use your name, is it the ruby silver you
showed us before? Bermannus. "They do have a similar appearance at first but they are not the same.
Transparent red fluorite is not rare. Naevius. "Then it is carbunculus. Bermannus.
"Certainly not that. Naevius. "Then how can you tell them apart?
Bermannus. "That is very easy. Fluorite does not have as brilliant a
luster. If it is
not transparent that distinguishes it from carbunculus. Finally all varieties of
fluorite melt as soon as they are placed in a fire while carbunculus does
not. Xaevius. "You distinguish them very well. Bermannus. "You see
another species with a pale purple color. Xaevius. "It looks like a
poor quality amethyst such as that found in many places
in Bohemia. Bermannus. "Certainly they are not dissimilar and for that reason fluorite can be
set in rings and sold readily as a good stone to the ordinary person who does not
know good amethysts. A third species is colorless as you see. Xaevius. "I would think it quartz.
Bermannus.
"This variety is yellow, that gray and the other blackish. Ancon. "What
use has fluorite? Bermannus. "During smelting it is often added to the
charge for it makes it more
fluid just as the genus of stone we have said is produced from pyrite. It is found
near Breitenbornn which is near Swartzenberg. Pigments can be made from
fluorite."
40 This description probably refers to the manganese sulphide alabandite and the vein material containing this mineral.
