gemstone
Yellow Topaz
Topaz - Al2SiO4(F,OH)2
Hardness: 8 on the Mohs scale. Color: Yellow, brownish-yellow, golden. Luster: Vitreous (glassy). Crystal structure: Orthorhombic. Cleavage: Perfect basal. Specific gravity: 3.49-3.57.
- Hardness
- 8 on the Mohs scale
- Color
- Yellow, brownish-yellow, golden
- Luster
- Vitreous (glassy)
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Physical properties
Hardness: 8 on the Mohs scale. Color: Yellow, brownish-yellow, golden. Luster: Vitreous (glassy). Crystal structure: Orthorhombic. Cleavage: Perfect basal. Specific gravity: 3.49-3.57.
Formation & geological history
Forms primarily in pegmatites, high-temperature quartz veins, and cavities in rhyolitic and granitic rocks. It crystallizes during the late stages of igneous cooling.
Uses & applications
Widely used in jewelry-making as a precious gemstone, for ornamental carvings, and valued by mineral collectors.
Geological facts
Topaz is one of the hardest naturally occurring minerals on Earth. Pure topaz is colorless, but impurities and defects in the crystal lattice create yellow, orange, blue, or pink varieties.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive high hardness (scratches quartz), excellent basal cleavage, and crystal habit. Commonly found in Brazil, Russia, Sri Lanka, and the US.
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