FactSheet – Topaz

Origin
Topaz forms at high temperatures, often in association with quartz, in igneous rocks such as granite and volcanic lavas. The name may come from the Sanskrit word ‘tapas’ meaning fire.

Composition: Aluminium fluorohydroxysilicate - Al2SiO4(FOH)2
Structure: Orthorhombic. Mohs scale 8 (although very hard, it should be protected from hard knocks).
Colour: Colourless, pale blue, pale pink, pale green, or a yellow to golden brown called imperial topaz. Transparent or slightly translucent if streaked/veiled or containing tear shaped gas or liquid bubbles.

Sources
Blue topaz is found world wide, although orange imperial topaz is unique to Brazil.

Our view...
Crystals (UK) imperial topaz comes from the Ouro Preto area of Brazil and some vintage photos (from 1994) exist showing the company founders amongst the diggings and miners near Mariana. The photos fortunately do not reveal how we paid far too much for the treasured specimens triumphantly returned to our modest lodgings (Chico Rey!).

Life moves on and Paul and Ray periodically return from Brazil clutching their prized imperial topaz specimens, which sometimes show beautiful pink colourings.

Blue topaz is widely found in boulder and crystal form and is heat treated to produce a very deep blue colour. Recently a near black blue colour has emerged. This is always treated. However, as the Natural History Museum topaz display makes clear there is no ‘test’ for heat treated topaz and it is therefore sold as ‘natural’. We prefer the lighter blue colours.

Curious facts
• The largest topaz specimen ever discovered (in Madagascar) weighed over 2.5 tonnes!
• The ancient Egyptians associated golden topaz with the glow of their mighty sun god Ra.
• Likewise, Romans linked topaz with their sun god, Jupiter.

Ros Mason – November 2006
© Crystals (UK) Ltd. T/A Crystals Reg. No. 5056864.

more factsheets • homepage

close window
Birthstones
& Zodiac stones
Our choices of stones are an amalgamation of modern and traditional systems, as well as those originating from Roman, Hebrew and Ayurvedic sources. We hope you find them useful.

•
Birthstones

January – Garnet
(also Rose Quartz)

February – Amethyst
(also Onyx)

March – Aquamarine
(also Bloodstone, Red Jasper)

April – Diamond
(also Rock Crystal/Quartz)

May – Emerald
(also Agate, Chrysoprase)

June – Moonstone
(also Pearl, Alexandrite)

July – Ruby
(also Jade, Carnelian)

August – Peridot
(also Carnelian, Sardonyx)

September – Sapphire
(also Chrysolite, Lapis Lazuli)

October – Opal
(also Beryl, Pink Tourmaline)

November – Yellow Topaz
(also Citrine)

December – Turquoise
(also Blue Topaz)

•
Zodiac Stones

Aquarius – Garnet

Pisces – Amethyst

Aries – Bloodstone

Taurus – Sapphire

Gemini – Agate

Cancer – Emerald

Leo – Onyx

Virgo – Carnelian

Libra – Chrysolite

Scorpio – Beryl

Sagittarius – Topaz

Capricorn – Ruby
Crystals (UK) Ltd.
Head Office: 13 Norman Court, Budlake Rd, Marsh Barton
Exeter EX2 8PY, UK
www.crystalshop.co.uk