The information below is a verbatim transcript of an article about the discovery, geology, mining and properties of benitoite, by Douglas B. Sterrett. It was published in the 1909 edition of Mineral Resources of the United States, by the United States Geological Survey. [2]

Description of Benitoite

An excellent description of the new California gem mineral, benitoite, has recently been given by G. D. Louderback, of the University of California. The locality was visited during the summer of 1909 by the present writer, and every facility was given for the examination of the deposit by the Dallas Mining Company through the kindness of Mr. Thomas Hayes, at that time acting superintendent. The following description has been abstracted in part from Doctor Louderback’s report and notes supplied from personal observation have been added.