TOPAZ

What is Topaz

Topaz is a silicate mineral and is one of the hardest natural minerals in world. It takes its place at 8 out of 10 on Mohs Hardness Scale.

Topaz as stated before is a silicate mineral composed of Aluminum and Fluorine. It is the hardest in silicate form of minerals and its beautiful crystalline properties and unique transparency makes it valuable.

Topaz are mostly found in the fractures or cracks of indigenous rocks, mostly in the spaces of Pegmatite or Rhyolite.

Topaz is produced when the Magma starts to cool down it reacts with Fluorine gases which helps in making Topaz Crystals.

Topaz are found with impurities when extracted from these rocks, but some are so crystal clear and without impurities, that such Topaz are valued a lot.

Topaz are mostly Colorless (ones without impurities), White, Pale-blue, Brown, Orange, Gray, Pink, Reddish Pink, Yellow, Yellowish Brown and Red.

Topaz are the gems which are mostly found in the market either treated or went through certain chemical process. Which gives Topaz a rich color.

Topaz in natural state are either Colorless, Golden brown or Yellow and are often confused with Citrine which is comparatively less valued gemstone.

Topaz history also states that 2000 years back every yellow stone was said to be Topaz. As Topaz meant Yellow stone, but later on this was changed and researchers stated that not all yellow colored stones are Topaz.

Topaz which are very rare and expensive are considered “Pink” ones which are natural and not treated and “Blue” if natural.

Types of Topaz

White or Colorless Topaz

Topaz in abundance are found which are color less. They are free from impurities and are not high priced until they are treated to make or bring out some color synthetically.

Colorless Topaz with the help of other minerals are synthetically treated to make Topaz like Pink, Red, Blue, Multi colored etc.

Imperial Topaz

Imperial Topaz is a well-known form of Topaz and whenever Topaz is discussed it’s the form which comes in minds of those who are familiar with this gem.

Imperial Topaz is commonly found in Brazil.  It has Golden, Orange or Yellowish shade with sometimes Pink Hues. A few consist of Chromium which when heated turn Pink or even Red which are very valued colors if occur naturally.

Blue Topaz

 Blue topaz gained a lot of value in early times and were of much greater value. Yet natural untreated Blue Topaz are valued a lot. But mostly in the market are treated. In 1960s it is said that a process was introduced to turn Topaz into Blue.

The step took Topaz through two Phases first, rough Topaz was Irradiated and turned Brown, and then it was heated to gain Blue color.

Later, when people started to know about such treated Topaz it lost its value. Now only Natural blue Topaz are valued, they are found in Pale blue color then are heated to gain rich blue color of Topaz.

Countries like Russia and Brazil often give natural Pale Blue Topaz.

Pink or Reddish Topaz

This color if natural without any treatment is valued a lot and is considered very rare. People pay lots of money to get natural Pink or Red colored topaz.

Only some expert can tell either such Topaz is real or not because like Blue Topaz, Pink and Red topaz are also being produced synthetically or through heat treating method.

Chromium is the reason behind this color as Chromium naturally helps crystals to gain Pink or Reddish shades. So Chromium is synthetically used to gain that color and mimic the natural one.

Pakistan is said to have natural Rose Pink Topaz in very limited amount. Likewise Brazil, America and a few other countries as well.

Precious Topaz

Precious Topaz is just a name given to certain colored Topaz which are valued a lot. If a Topaz is of Rich Vibrant Yellow color or in such shades like Medium Yellow to Orange Yellow. It is valued a lot not only by the wearer, but jewelers and Gem Hunters as well.

 Countries like Germany, Sri-Lanka, Myanmar, Mexico and America are said to have Yellow shaded Topaz.

Sherry Topaz

It is a form of Topaz which is of very beautiful color. As it is clear by know that forms of Topaz are based on the colors they possess. Sherry Topaz are Brown in color. It has different brown shades most famous one is Honeyed Brown Shade.

They are found in many countries but commonly known are Brazil, Pakistan, America, Myanmar, Australia and Mexico.

Mystic Topaz

Mystic Topaz is a Topaz which shows multi colors when seen or moved in light. Well it’s not real and is not naturally produced. It is made synthetically when the surface of Colorless Topaz is covered with minerals layer which give this effect of Multi-color.

Sources of Topaz

Brazil: (Most famous country for producing high quality Topaz all around the world) Minas Gerais and Ouro Preto.

Russia: Ural Mountains, Sanarka

Mexico: San Luis Potosi

Pakistan: Mardan at Ghundao Hills, Katlang

America: Texas, New Hampshire, Colorado at Pikes Peak, Utah at Thomas Range

Germany: Schneckenstein

Madagascar, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Sri-Lanka, India, Japan, Vietnam, Norway, Zimbabwe and UK.