Topaz
 | It has been suggested that Blue topaz be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since October 2008. |
| Topaz | |
|---|---|
 a group of topaz crystals on matrix | |
| General | |
| Category | Silicate mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | Al2SiO4(F,OH)2 |
| Crystal system | orthorhombic |
| Identification | |
| Color | Clear (if no impurities), blue, brown, orange, gray, yellow, green, pink and reddish pink. |
| Cleavage | [001] Perfect |
| Fracture | conchoidal |
| Mohs scale hardness | 8 |
| Luster | Vitreous |
| Streak | White |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent |
| Specific gravity | 3.49 - 3.57 |
| Optical properties | Biaxial (+) |
| Refractive index | nα = 1.606 - 1.629 nβ = 1.609 - 1.631 nγ = 1.616 - 1.638 |
| Birefringence | δ = 0.010 |
| Pleochroism | Weak in thick sections |
| Other characteristics | Fluorescent, short UV=golden yellow, long UV=cream |
| References | [1][2][3] |
Topaz is a silicate mineral of aluminium and fluorine with the chemical formula Al2SiO4(F,OH)2. It is the birthstone of the month November. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic group and its crystals are mostly prismatic terminated by pyramidal and other faces, the basal pinacoid often being present. It has an easy and perfect basal cleavage, meaning that gemstones or other fine specimens have to be handled with care to avoid developing cleavage flaws. The fracture is conchoidal to uneven. Topaz has a hardness of 8, a specific gravity of 3.4–3.6, and a vitreous luster. Pure topaz is transparent but is usually tinted by impurities; typical topaz is wine or straw-yellow. They may be made white, gray, green, blue, pink or reddish-yellow and transparent or translucent.
Localities and occurrence
Topaz is commonly associated with silicic igneous rocks of the granite and rhyolite type. It typically crystallizes in granitic pegmatites or in vapor cavities in rhyolite lava flows like those at Topaz Mountain in western Utah. It may be found with fluorite and cassiterite. It can be found in the Ural and Ilmen mountains, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Czech Republic, Germany, Norway, Pakistan, Italy, Sweden, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Flinders Island and the United States. Some clear topaz crystals from Brazilian pegmatites can reach boulder size and weigh hundreds of pounds. Crystals of this size may be seen in museum collections. The famous Braganza diamond is in most likelihood a topaz. The Topaz of Aurungzebe, observed by Jean Baptiste Tavernier measured 157.75 carats.[4]
Etymology and historical and mythical usage
The name "topaz" is derived from the Greek Τοπάζιος (Τοpáziοs), the author of one of the first systematic treatises on minerals and gemstones dedicated two chapters on the topic in 1652.[5] In the Middle Ages the name topaz was used to refer to any yellow gemstone, but now the name is only properly applied to the silicate described above.
Many modern English translations of the Bible, including the King James Version mention topaz in Exodus 28:17 in reference to a stone in the Hoshen: "And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row." However, since these translations as topaz all derive from the Septuagint translation topazi[os], which as mentioned above referred to a yellow stone that wasn't topaz, probably chrysolite, it should be borne in mind that topaz is not meant here.[6] The masoretic text (the Hebrew on which most modern protestant bible translations of the Old Testament are based) has pitdah as the gem the stone is made from; pitdah is of unknown meaning, though scholars think it is related to an Assyrian word meaning flashed. There is a wide range of views among traditional sources about which tribe of the Israelites the stone refers to.
Yellow topaz is the traditional November birthstone, the symbol of friendship, and the state gemstone for the US State of Utah.
Blue topaz is the Texas state gemstone, often cut with the Lone Star cut - the Texas state gemstone cut showing a star in the heart of the gem.[7]
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Colorless topaz, Minas Gerais, Brazil -
A cut blue topaz -
A red topaz
References
- Hurlbut, Cornelius S.; Klein, Cornelis, 1985, Manual of Mineralogy, 20th ed., ISBN 0-471-80580-
- ^ http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/topaz.pdf Handbook of Mineralogy
- ^ http://www.mindat.org/show.php?id=3996&ld=1&pho= Mindat
- ^ http://webmineral.com/data/Topaz.shtml Webmineral
- ^ Famous and Notheworthy Topazes Rao Bahadur, A Handbook of Precious Stones, Geological Survey of India
- ^ A Lapidary or History of Gemstones, University of Cambridge, 1652
- ^ see for extensive discussion Oliver Farrington, Gems and Gem Minerals, Chicago, 1903. Farrington was curator of Natural History Museum in Chicago.
- ^ Texas State Library & Archives Commission Web site
External links
- Pink Topaz, Biblical Topaz References a few dozen full text historical references on Topaz
- Mineral galleries