Show THE ONYX DISCOVERY THERE has bag been oca occasional lonal comment in the local papers in relation to the discovery by mr cederstrom Ceder atrom of an immense body of onyx in utah county we have examined a number of specimens of this stone atone which Is if susceptible of the highest polish and is ie of surpassing beauty it has been mentioned as marble kut hut this is in a mistake it is ranked as a precious stone atone its ita chief beauty is ia given to it by its translucent quality tys causing it to show a combination of depth transparency and brilliancy we regard mr cederstrom s discovery as ont one of the most important and valuable yet made in those mountains the variety in shade and combination of color are practically englese end lese as no one piece so PO closely resembles another that the differ difference edco cannot readily be discerned while many of the distinctions are strongly marad george frederick kunz mentions t her onyx in a work entitled gems and precious stones t published by tho the scientific publishing coot new york mr kunz is ia oue of the highest author aties extant on the subject treated fa UP his book he is ge gem expert for tiffany co N T x special agent of the U 8 geological survey member of the mineralogical society of great britain and ireland aud and is connected with a similar All clety of st petersburg russia in order to give the ordinary reader an idea of the nature of onyx wo we make the following extract mexican on onyx y x so called Is ia really an aragonite arago prof mariano barcena ot of the mexican commission to the worlds fair held in philadelphia during 1876 has ra recently published an account of its occurrence and chemical character the principal deposits are located near the town of tecali in the state of pueblo it is essentially a carbonate of calcium containing small quantities of the oxides of iron and manganese to which are dae the variegated colors for which the so much admired the specific gravity 29 shows that it is in aragonite it was extensively ten ton used by the ancient mexicans specimens mons of whose handiwork we still have preserved in our museums in the he form of masks idols and a variety of objects the softness of the material it can be readily carved with a knife has tempted some of the modern residents of mexico to imitate the ancient objects to meet m beet the demand of visitors in that country this material Is 13 entirely matio matic in its formation I 1 and rown and red oxides of iron have been deposited between the layers it is generally out across the layer which gives it a beautiful veined appearance when k aves hen it is out in the same direction as the de position the eure lie well shown the mineral being so translucent that the markings resemble colored clouds it is one of the most ornamental stones of any age and has been used extensively for ornamental purposes in europe as well as in the th united states where it was first introduced about 1876 when it brought about ten times its present price the natives nati veis in the vicinity of pueblo sell large quantities of this material made into trays crucifixes cruci fixes reliquaries inkstands ink stands pen holders paper folders and paperweights in the form of single fruits or bunches of fruit fratt fish or other natural objects which are copied not only with regard to form but often with remarkable skill in the utilization of the colors in the stone so great is in the variety of tints of color in which the ir ar aderial is found that there is scarcely a limit to its possibilities for such purposes aside from the multifarious uses too to which onyx can be put pirt in the manufacture of 0 smaller articles atti cles of a utilitarian and ornamental chara character titer ita if effects in combia aaion with marbles of lighter tints in the embellishment ot or the interior of buildings would be inconceivably beautiful A 8 an instance of the striking loveliness of marble ornamentation the interior of the buildings of the city or of glasgow may be appropriately cited the grand staircase including steps banisters walls anti and ceiling are all in marble of t exquisite design and variegated hues many of the corridors are similarly constructed and i is p positively enchanting in the marble in use in that structure there is nothing approaching in richness aud and brilliancy biancy the onyx stone recently discovered in utah county judging from the specimen we have seen As to the value of the deposit im qu etlou it la only nece acary to refer to to the fact that onyx to la rated among the precious stones atones and to state that the quantity of the article in sight flight is according cc to reliable information X obtained from persons who ought to know not lew less than a thousand tons aad bd the quality improves as the discovery to is developed it hai bag been stated that an effort has bee made to secure of eastern capital with which to utilize this valuable deposit this Is an error it Is intended at present at least to effect this by home capital hon francis armstrong is one of 0 the gentlemen interested te in it he will doubtless bring to bear upon this amdor lant interest the push and energy for which he is noted |