Topaz

Topaz is a silicate mineral of aluminium and fluorine with the chemical formula Al₂SiO₄(F,OH)₂. Topaz crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, and its crystals are mostly prismatic terminated by pyramidal and other faces.

Topaz is commonly associated with silicic igneous rocks of the granite and rhyolite type. It typically crystallizes in granitic pegmatites or in vapor cavities in rhyolite lava flows like those at Topaz Mountain in western Utah. It can be found with fluorite and cassiterite in various areas including the Ural and Ilmen mountains of Russia, in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Czech Republic, Germany, Norway, Pakistan, Italy, Sweden, Japan, Brazil, Mexico; Flinders Island, Australia; Nigeria and the United States.

Some clear topaz crystals from Brazilian pegmatites can reach boulder size and weigh hundreds of pounds. Crystals of this size may be seen in museum collections. The Topaz of Aurangzeb, observed by Jean Baptiste Tavernier measured 157.75 carats. The American Golden Topaz, a more recent gem, measured a massive 22,892.5 carats. Colorless and light-blue varieties of topaz are found in Precambrian granite in Mason County, Texas within the Llano Uplift. There is no commercial mining of topaz in that area.

The name "topaz" is derived (via Old French: Topace and Latin: Topazus) from the Greek Τοπάζιος (Τοpáziοs) or Τοπάζιον (Τοpáziοn), the ancient name of St. John's Island in the Red Sea which was difficult to find and from which a yellow stone (now believed to be chrysolite: yellowish olivine) was mined in ancient times; topaz itself (rather than topazios) was not really known about before the classical era. Pliny says that Topazos is a legendary island in the Red Sea and the mineral "topaz" was first mined there.

The word topaz is related to the Sanskrit word तपस्"tapas" meaning "heat" or "fire", and also to the Hebrew word for "orange" (the fruit): tapooz (תפוז), both of which predate the Greek word.

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.

Orange topaz, also known as precious topaz, is the traditional November birthstone, the symbol of friendship, and the state gemstone of the US state of Utah.

Imperial topaz is yellow, pink (rare, if natural) or pink-orange. Brazilian Imperial Topaz can often have a bright yellow to deep golden brown hue, sometimes even violet. Many brown or pale topazes are treated to make them bright yellow, gold, pink or violet colored. Some imperial topaz stones can fade on exposure to sunlight for an extended period of time.

Blue topaz is the state gemstone of the US state of Texas. Naturally occurring blue topaz is quite rare. Typically, colorless, gray or pale yellow and blue material is heat treated and irradiated to produce a more desired darker blue.

Mystic topaz is colorless topaz which has been artificially coated giving it the desired rainbow effect

Topaz gemstone meaning

Topaz is one of the twelve breastplate stones of the High Priest referred to in the Book of Exodus. The breastplate stones are considered sacred to twelve mighty angels who guard the gates to Paradise.
Silver Topaz is colorless and untreated. Colorless topaz is often irradiated and heat treated to form blue topaz. Silver Topaz is also called "white topaz".

Silver or White topaz:

• Increases your awareness of thoughts and deeds and the karmic effects of these
• Purifies emotions as well as actions
• Activates cosmic awareness
• Removes stagnant energy

Topaz meaning

Topaz is a soothing, empathetic stone that will direct energy to the place it is most needed. It heals and energizes. Topaz is a promoter of truth and forgiveness. Use it to find your own path.

How to sell Topaz

When it comes to a question of selling topaz, it has to be treated in one way or other to enhance its color. Since the natural colors of the topaz is not found to be vivid or exciting, makers of jewelry will only use those that have a bright an enhanced look. This is one of the reasons why heat treatment is used to turn a brown or yellow shade of topaz into a pink stone which is thought to be more popular and valuable. Topaz being a very hardy stone, the heat apparently does not damage it in any way.

The genuine topaz in colors of pink, violet and apricot are quite expensive because of the intensity of their color while the treated stone is less expensive and has a wide range of qualities and prices. Traders in gems create various gimmicks when selling topaz and coin names such as "coated topaz" and "mystic topaz" when in fact there are no gems as such but only stones diffused and treated in order to make selling topaz easy. Therefore be careful and ask questions before you decide to buy any topaz jewelry.

One of the easiest ways of selling topaz is by making rings out of the gemstones because rings are always a popular item of jewelry for both men and women. Although the topaz on its own has certain powers, when they are combined with amethyst and made into jewelry, it is supposed to bring out the spiritual energies. It is also said when you wear topaz you have a sound sleep with pleasant dreams and it also wards of evil spirits. Explaining all these curative properties to an interested buyer is another easy way of selling topaz because apart from the beauty of the stone, see how many benefits you can get from wearing topaz?