| Currency: |
|  | | Registered Member : 3,083 |
|
 | |
|
| | | | | |
|
| <<Back to Main | ApatiteApatite | Aquamarine and BerylsAquamarine and Beryls | ChrysoberylChrysoberyl | Crystal CollectionsCrystal Collections | DanburiteDanburite | DiopsideDiopside | EnstatiteEnstatite | Feldspar and MoonstonesFeldspar and Moonstones | FluoriteFluorite | GarnetGarnet | Gemstones in matrixGemstones in matrix | Lapis LazuliLapis Lazuli | PegmatitePegmatite | PeridotPeridot | PetalitePetalite | PhenakitePhenakite | Pyrite, Hematite and Iron OresPyrite, Hematite and Iron Ores | Quartz Family: Amethyst, Citrine, Agate...Quartz Family: Amethyst, Citrine, Agate... | Rare Burmese SpecimensRare Burmese Specimens | RubyRuby | SapphireSapphire | ScapoliteScapolite | Sillimanite or FibroliteSillimanite or Fibrolite | SpinelSpinel | TopazTopaz | TourmalineTourmaline | ZirconZircon | Other Fine CrystalsOther Fine Crystals | | Our Top Topaz Highlight | Topaz | | The Mogok stone track with its western pegmatic areas in Sakangyi and Barnardmyo is a famous place to find topaz mineral specimens and crystals that are then cut as fine gemstones. Natural blue, sherry, pink and large colorless specimens are found there.
Most natural colored topaz especially brown and blue is naturally fading under sunlight. Some brown topaz hosting some chromium atoms can then turn pink after direct exposure to sunlight. Topaz comes mainly from Minas Gerais in Brazil, Russia, and Madagascar.
Topaz occurs naturally in colorless, yellow, orange, red, blue and green body colors. Colorless topaz has little value and is common in the market. Some topaz varieties can be irradiated to make its color become various shades of blue. Today, irradiated blue topaz is so common in the market that this practice is accepted by most countries except, for example, in France where just the rare, natural blue topaz can legally be sold. Red-brown topaz is also common. It can make a nice faceted stone and is sometimes called "sherry topaz”. Again it is not of high value.
Topaz is typically more expensive than citrine, and far less than morganite, or good golden beryl. Imperial Topaz is the most prized color in topaz it is coming typically from Brazil with a red-orange to a pink-orange color.
It is heat sensitive, and usually contains numerous flaws. In fine qualities these stones can reach about the same value as good aquamarines. Pink and green topaz is fairly rare and highly valued. Pink color is occasionally found in jewelry, but the green is very rarely found. Topaz has an orthorhombic crystal system with some pseudo tetragonal symmetry and is easily differentiated from other transparent minerals, like quartz, by its vertical striations, its high specific gravity and luster.
Topaz represents a link between pegmatic and hydrothermal growing phases. As a result it can harbor many interesting pegmatic crystals such as albite, apatite, goethite; muscovite and its congruence with hydrothermal growing environment explain the richness of its liquid inclusions. Inclusions in topaz can be beautiful and topaz spheres hosting inclusions are as a result very appreciated as paperweights or decorative items.
| | See all Items in this Topaz Category |  |
| |
|