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Topaz

Big Photo

Imperial Topaz
Brazil
17.22 carats
© Palagems

Pure topaz is colorless and transparent but is usually tinted by impurities; typical topaz is wine, yellow, pale gray, reddish-orange, or blue brown. It can also be made white, pale green, blue, gold, pink (rare), reddish-yellow or opaque to transparent/translucent.
27 photos

Topaz Gemstones by Colour

This table shows the variety of hues this gemstone can be found in. Click on a photo for more information.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Topaz Gemstones by Size

This table shows distribution of Topaz gemstone sizes that are listed on this site. This can give a good indication as to the general availability of this gemstone in different sizes.
Contributed photos
Lightest:1.61 cts
Heaviest:53.80 cts
Average:9.93 cts
Total photos:27
Do you have a larger Topaz? Why not upload a photo?
1.61ct to 6.83ct6.83ct to 12.05ct12.05ct to 17.27ct17.27ct to 22.49ct22.49ct to 27.71ct27.71ct to 32.92ct32.92ct to 38.14ct38.14ct to 43.36ct43.36ct to 48.58ct48.58ct to 53.80ct
General Information
Varieties/Types:
Imperial Topaz
Chemical Formula
Al
 
2
SiO
 
4
(OH,F)
 
2
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
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Topaz Treatments
Irradiation followed by heat-treatment produces most blue colors. Irradiation also produces yellow, orange, red, brownish, pinkish and greenish colors: often unstable, may fade upon direct exposure to sunlight. Coated entirely or partially: may show peeled coating at facet junctions, iridescence (reflecting light), spotty coloration. Some surface-treatments are removed only with acids (mostly green and blue) - Blue Chart Gem Identification, Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, 2010, p 5
Physical Properties of Topaz
Mohs Hardness8
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
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Specific Gravity3.52 to 3.57
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
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Cleavage QualityPerfect
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
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FractureConchoidal
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Optical Properties of Topaz
Refractive Index1.606 to 1.644
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
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Optical CharacterBiaxial/+
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
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Birefringence0.008 to 0.011
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
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PleochroismPink topaz - distinct: colorless - pale pink - pink;
Red topaz - distinct: dark red - yellow - pinkish-red;
Orange/brown - distinct: yellow-brown - brown; Yellow topaz - weak: pale yellow - honey-yellow - yellow; Violet/purple topaz - distinct: colorless - pale pink - purple; Blue topaz - weak: colorless - (pinkish) - bluish; Green topaz - weak: colorless - light green - blue-green
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
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Dispersion0.014
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Colour
Colour (General)Colourless, yellow, yellow-brown, reddish-brown, blue, green, pink, red, violet
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
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Causes of ColourBlue, color centers of unknown structure. Green, yellow and blue color centers. Yellow, color center of unknown nature. Orange ("imperial topaz"), yellow color center and Cr3+ in octahedral coordination. Pink, Cr3+ - in octahedral coordination. Reddish brown ("sherry topaz"), yellow and red color centers.
W. William Hanneman, Pragmatic Spectroscopy For Gemologists (2011)
TransparencyTransparent
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
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LustreVitreous
Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Fluorescence & other light emissions
Fluorescence (General)Pink: weak - brown; Red: weak - yellow-brown; Yellow: weak - orange-yellow
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
Fluorescence (Long-Wave UV)Colorless, blue: inert to yellow-(greenish); golden, brownish, pink: often yellow-orangy
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Crystallography of Topaz
Crystal SystemOrthorhombic
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
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HabitPrisms with multi-faceted ends, often 8-sided in cross-section striations along length.
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
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Geological Environment
Where found:Topaz occurs most commonly in such igneous rocks as granites, granite
pegmatites and rhyolites, occupying veins or cavities. Resulting most often from late-stage pneumatolytic action, topaz is commonly found in greisen.
Michael ODonoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006)
Inclusions in Topaz
Liquid inclusions, two- and three-phase inclusions, healing cracks, needle-like crystals - Gemmological Tables, Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, 2004, p 13
Further Information
Mineral information:Topaz information at mindat.org
Significant Gem Localities
Afghanistan
 
  • Badakhshan
    • Jurm District
      • Koksha Valley
Blauwet (2004)
  • Nuristan
    • Kamdesh District
D. Blauwet (2009)
Brazil
 
  • Minas Gerais
    • Caraí
Morteani et al. (2002)
Mossman (2001)
      • Antônio Pereira District
Mossman (2001)
      • Cachoeira do Campo District
Mossman (2001)
      • Ouro Preto district
        • Saramenha
Menzies (1995)
      • Rodrigo Silva District
        • Boa Vista
Morteani et al. (2002)
Mossman (2001)
    • Pedra Azul pegmatite district
Mossman (2001)
    • Virgem da Lapa
Morteani et al. (2002)
  • Rondônia
    • Ariquemes
Morteani et al. (2002)
Canada
 
  • British Columbia
    • Atlin Mining Division
      • Bennett
Wilson (2007, 2010)
China
 
  • Jiangxi
    • Ganzhou
      • Dayu Co.
        • Xihuashan ore field
B. Ottens (2009)
  • Xinjiang
    • Yili Hasake Autonomous Prefecture (Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture)
      • Aletai Prefecture (Altay Prefecture)
        • Fuyun Co. (Koktokay Co.)
          • Koktokay pegmatite field (Keketuohai pegmatite field)
            • Altay Mine
B. Ottens (2009)
Kazakhstan
 
  • Karaganda Region
    • Shet
      • Akchatau (Aqshatau; Akschatau; Akchataul; Akshatau)
Smith and Smith (1995)
Madagascar
 
  • Atsimo-Atsinanana
Milisenda et al. (2001)
  • Ihorombe
    • Ihosy
      • Ilakaka
Milisenda et al. (2001)
Mozambique
 
  • Zambezia Province
    • Gilé District
      • Muiane-Naipa group
J. Marques (2009)
Myanmar
 
  • Mandalay Region
    • Pyin-Oo-Lwin District
      • Mogok Township
        • Bernardmyo
          • Lay-tha Taung
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
        • Chaung-gyi
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
        • Kin (Guard Post)
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
        • Kyatpyin Central
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
        • Kyatpyin North
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
        • Kyauk-Pyat-That
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Hughes (1997)
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
          • Yadanar-kaday-kadar
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
        • Mogok Valley
          • Dattaw-taung (Dattaw hill)
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
        • Pein-Pyit (Painpyit; Pyan Pyit)
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
    • Yamethin District
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Namibia
 
  • Erongo Region
    • Karibib Constituency
      • Spitzkopje Area
Cairncross (2005)
Pakistan
 
  • Gilgit-Baltistan
    • Astore District
Muhammad (2004)
Muhammad (2004)
    • Gilgit District
Menzies (1995)
Blauwet (2004)
Muhammad (2004)
    • Roundu District
      • Haramosh Mts.
        • Chamachhu
Muhammad (2004)
Muhammad (2004)
Muhammad (2004)
    • Shigar District
      • Braldu Valley
Blauwet (2004)
Blauwet (2004)
Muhammad (2004)
Blauwet (2004)
Blauwet (2004)
Blauwet (2004)
Muhammad (2004)
Muhammad (2004)
Muhammad (2004)
Muhammad (2004)
  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province
    • Mardan District
      • Katlang
Einfalt (2002)
Russia
 
  • Sverdlovsk Oblast
    • Prigorodny District
Evseev (1994)
      • Yuzhakovo
P. Lyckberg (2009)
  • Zabaykalsky Krai
    • Krasnochikoysky District
      • Krasnyi Chikoy
        • Malkhan pegmatite field
Evseev (1994)
Sri Lanka
 
  • Central Province
    • Matale District
G. Zoysa (2009)
  • Sabaragamuwa Province
    • Ratnapura District
G. Zoysa (2009)
G. Zoysa (2009)
Econ Geol (1981) 76:733-738
Tajikistan
 
  • Gorno-Badakhshan
    • Rangkul' Highlands
Skrigitil (1996)
Ukraine
 
  • Zhytomyr Oblast
Evseev (1994)
USA
 
  • California
    • San Diego County
      • Ramona Mining District
        • Ramona
Fisher (2002, 2008)
  • Colorado
    • Park County
Fisher (2002, 2008)
  • Utah
    • Juab County
      • Detroit Mining District
U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
Vietnam
 
Pham et al. (2004)
  • Thanh Hóa Province
    • Thường Xuân District
Pham et al. (2004)
Zimbabwe
 
  • Mashonaland West
    • Karoi District (Urungwe; Hurungwe District)
      • Mwami (Miami)
L.F. Marsh and F. Mutugumbate (2009)
  • Midlands
    • Gweru District
L.F. Marsh and F. Mutugumbate (2009)
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