Jewelry Lovers

Nevertheless, not all topazes grow from pegmatitic mineral formation, for fluorine-rich solutions also impregnated the country rock at an even later stage and, where hot enough, dissolved the existing minerals. Thus silica and alumina were freed so as to combine with the fluorine to form topaz. Such processes of replacement took place mainly in cracks and druses. It is exclusively the topazes from these pneumatolytichydrothermal deposits which concern the gem market, for here every glorifying property—beauty of color, hardness, and durability—is imparted to them, elevating them into sought after and treasured gemstones. The variety of the occurrences and of their genesis likewise produces distinguishable features in their crystals, and thus each type of deposit produces its corresponding topaz crystal. Collectors and connoisseurs can, from the appearance of a topaz crystal, recognize from what type of formation and often even from which actual locality it comes.

The origin of topaz colors has so far not been as thoroughly investigated as those of other gemstones; nevertheless, the assumption is justified that a different oxidation valence of iron decides whether a topaz turns blue or golden. In pink topaz chromium seems to act as the pigment, for in the emission spectrum a bright chromium line appears. In pegmatitic topazes colorless to blue predominate, also pale yellow, while the products of the pneumatolytic-hydrothermal transition stage exhibit the coveted golden and pink tones. Close parallels may be drawn between the colors of topaz and beryl. However, because of their higher refraction and greater hardness (8), topazes exhibit far more advantageous and ideal gemstone properties than beryls; consequently they should retain the buyer’s favor, the more so since their prices slightly hold the balance.

The testimony from antiquity about the name topazion, “the Sought-and-Found,” leads one to suppose that in olden times it was not our gemstone with the appealing golden tinge which was meant at all, but most probably peridot. For Pliny describes, under the name of topaz, a green gem which has nothing in common with the brownish-yellow tone of the November birthstone, which symbolizes friendship. On the other hand, the peridot from Zebirget Island in the Red Sea flourished for a long time under the name chrysolite, which means “golden stone”—a name perhaps better suited to topaz.

The topaz was much prized in the Middle Ages. The majority of the wine-yellow crystals produced during those times were provided by the Schneckenstein in the Erzgebirge mountain range between Saxony and Bohemia. Augustus the Strong of Poland, who is remembered in history as a luxury-loving prince, had many of his splendid court jewels adorned with the topazes so highly prized by him.

Unusually large and, in some cases, very beautiful topazes are owned by the mineralogical museums in Florence, London, Paris, and Vienna.

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)
Yellow Diamond Topaz: Captive Gold of the Sun continue…