Topaz Crystals
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| Topaz Crystals.
Locality: Mina Veronica, El Copetillo, Mun. de Villa García, Zacatecas, Mexico. Photo Copyright © Tony Peterson |
Topaz is a silicate mineral that comes in a variety of colors, including colorless, yellow, orange, brown, blue, pink, and red. Its chemical formula is Al₂SiO₄(F,OH)₂, meaning it consists of aluminum, silicon, oxygen, and fluorine or hydroxyl groups.
Topaz from this locality is found in granitic pegmatites or high-temperature hydrothermal veins, often associated with quartz, fluorite, cassiterite, and other minerals.
General Topaz Characteristics
- Crystal System: Orthorhombic
- Habit: Typically prismatic crystals with a vertically striated appearance, terminated by pyramidal faces or domes. Basal pinacoids may also be present.
- Color: Commonly colorless, white, yellow, orange, pink, blue, or light brown. Mexican topaz is often golden-yellow to sherry-brown.
- Luster: Vitreous
- Hardness: 8 (Mohs scale)
Fun Facts:
- The name "topaz" may come from the Sanskrit word tapas (fire) or the Greek island Topazios.
- Blue topaz is the birthstone for December.
- Some topaz specimens exhibit pleochroism (appearing different colors from different angles).
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