Topaz
By Randy Knox
Topaz is a gemstone that is a birthstone for November. I was told about the gemstone only once
before. I was told that by my mom when I was five told that it was my birthstone was topaz and I did not
understand. I started picking up small pebbles and kept asking her if it was topaz she always said no. by
one hour of this I got bored and stoped asking about it. Now with this project I get to learn more about it.
Topaz is a gemstone with a hardness of eight on mohes hardness scale. This means it is a hard
rock and can scratch lots of other rocks. There are few rocks that can scratch topaz and one of them is
diamond. Diamond can scratch topaz because of the way the crystal structure is that allows diamond to do
this. Just like diamond it’s because of the crystal structure that allows topaz to be so hard.
Topaz has many colors that it comes as some more rare than others. It ranges from white, gold,
orange, blue, pink, and the most expensive red. Red is so expensive because it is so rare it is not found
naturally red very often. It is because of all of these colors that make topaz so unique.
A1 2 Si O 4 (F, O, H) 2 is topazes chemical formula it means that topaz is a silicate mineral of
aluminum and fluorine. This gem is found most of the time in Brazil. It is also found sometimes in the
Russian mountains. The luster of topaz is glassy.
Topaz has a specific gravity of 3.49 -3.57. specific gravity is defined as the ratio of the density of
any substance to the density of some other substance taken as standard. The specific gravity for liquids or
gasses is compared to water.
There are some myths that come along with the gem topaz. During the middle ages people
thought that it would strengthen the mind. They also thought that it would prevent mental disorders. I
think that is just a myth.
Topaz is found to be principally gem pegmatite’s. The most famous topaz in the entire world is
the largest red facetted topaz. It is not that big but red is rare so it is the most famous. One other one that
is really famous is the biggest one in the world it weighs almost 600 pounds.
The cleavage and fracture are two different things cleavage is defined as the tendency of crystals,
certain minerals, rocks, etc., to break in preferred directions so as to yield more or less smooth surfaces.
Fracture is defined as the characteristic appearance of a broken surface, as of a mineral. Keeping that in
mind topazes cleavage is excellent.
The crystal structure for topaz is diamond shapes cross sections. The streak for topaz is white.
The Streak for a mineral is what the rock looks like in powdered form. So you rub topaz against a streak
plate and there will be a powdered form of the rock on the streak plate and for topaz that is white.
The luster for a mineral is defined as the state or quality of shining by reflecting light; glitter,
sparkle, sheen, or gloss. Topaz shines when shone in the light there for it has a glassy luster. There are a
couple of different kinds of luster dull (earthy), metallic, glassy, waxy, and pearly. In this case it is glassy.
Density is defined as the mass per unit volume. The density for the gem stone topaz is 3.5 - 3.6,
Average = 3.55. The density also helps us know about crystal structure. The denser a gem gets the harder
it is. This happens because it is packed closer together and it makes it harder.
Fracture for a mineral is how a mineral appears once it has been broke or how it breaks. The
fracture for topaz is brittle. If you break topaz it will be in to lots of pieces. It does this because of the
crystal structure.
Topazes place of origin was named after its locality. It was named after the Topasos Island in
the red sea. That was the first place it was found once it was found we started finding it all over the world
especially in Brazil. They find it in Russia and they find it in Japan. People have been finding topaz
everywhere.
Some special properties of topaz are that there are red topazes. Not every gem has the color red.
Another one of topazes special properties is that it is florescent or rather under florescent light it appears
yellow to cream colored. It is a cool mineral in the fact that it has a diamond shaped crystal structure.
The Greeks thought topaz had the power to increase strength and make the wearer invisible. The
Romans thought that it would improve eye sight. The Egyptians wore it to protect them from injuries.
Topaz has lots of myths about it and stories but I like how it makes you invisible.
The name topaz comes from the Sanskrit and means fire (Sanskrit is one of the 22 languages of
India). It is a cool name for such a cool gem. You can change topazes color to blue by altering the gem so
if there is a blur topaz you do not know if has been made naturally.
I am glad I got to do this project because now I know more about my birthstone. Now I can tell
my mom about it and I know that if I pick up a random pebble it is not very likely it is topaz. Now I know
about it and I would like to keep doing research on it and find out all I can about this gem.
Bibliography
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Sofiandes, Anna, and George, Harlow Gems and crystals 2001.
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23 2009
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nov 2009
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2009
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Amethyst galleries http://www.galleries.com/minerals/by_name.htm 1995, nov 23 2009
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topaz Nov 22 2009, nov 23 2009
amethyst galleries http://www.galleries.com/minerals/silicate/topaz/topaz.htm 1995, nov 23 2009