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Topaz

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Shigar Valley, Skardu District, Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan
© 2001 John H. Betts

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Formula:
Al
 
2
[(F,OH)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
]
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless, white, pale ...
Lustre:VitreousHardness:8
Name:Named after Topasos Island in the Red Sea. In antique times, the name was probably used for the gemstone that is now known as peridot.


Pegmatites and high temperature quartz veins. Cavities in granites and rhyolites.

Classification of Topaz

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/B.02-70
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.AF.35

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
F : Nesosilicates with additional anions; cations in [4], [5] and/or only [6] coordination
Dana 8th edition ID:52.3.1.1

52 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups and O,OH,F,H2O
3 : Insular SiO4 Groups and O, OH, F, and H2O with cations in [6] coordination only
Hey's CIM Ref.:17.2.1

17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
2 : Silicates with fluoride
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Physical Properties of Topaz

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Colourless, white, pale blue, light green, yellow, yellowish brown, or red
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):8
Hardness Data:Mohs hardness reference species
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
(001)
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.4 - 3.6 g/cm3

Crystallography of Topaz

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:a = 4.65Å, b = 8.8Å, c = 8.4Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.528 : 1 : 0.955
Unit Cell Volume:V 343.73 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Long to short prismatic.
Comment:Crystallography (orthorhomic or triclinic) depends upon the ratio of F and OH in the mineral.
Crystal Atlas:
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Topaz no.188 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Topaz no.208 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Topaz no.215 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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Structure
  Reference
Diego Gatta G Nestola F Bromiley G D Loose A (2006) New insight into crystal chemistry of topaz: a multi-methodological study Locality: Ouro Preto, Minas Gerias, Brazil Sample: X-ray refinement at T = 298 K Note: x(F4) corrected. American Mineralogist 91:1839-1846.

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More Crystal Structures
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X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
3.693 (60)
3.195 (66)
3.037 (37)
2.937 (100)
2.3609 (45)
2.1049 (44)

Optical Data of Topaz

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.606 - 1.629 nβ = 1.609 - 1.631 nγ = 1.616 - 1.638
2V:Measured: 48° to 68°, Calculated: 58° to 68°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.010

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:noticable r > v
Pleochroism:Weak
Comments:In thick sections

X= yellow
Y= yellow, violet, reddish
Z= violet, bluish, yellow, pink

Chemical Properties of Topaz

Formula:
Al
 
2
[(F,OH)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
]
Essential elements:Al, F, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, F, H, O, Si

Relationship of Topaz to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.AF.05Sillimanite
Al
 
2
[O|SiO
 
4
]
9.AF.10Andalusite
Al
 
2
[O|SiO
 
4
]
9.AF.10Kanonaite
Mn
3+
 
Al[O|SiO
 
4
]
9.AF.15Kyanite
Al
 
2
[O|SiO
 
4
]
9.AF.20Mullite
Al
 
8
[(O,OH,F)|(Si,Al)O
 
4
]
 
4
9.AF.20Krieselite
(Al,Ga)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|GeO
 
4
]
9.AF.25Yoderite
Mg(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
[O|OH|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
9.AF.30Magnesiostaurolite
(Mg,Li,Fe
2+
 
)
 
1.5-2
Al
 
9
[O
 
6
|(OH)
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
]
9.AF.30Staurolite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Zn)
 
1.5-2
Al
 
9
[O
 
6
|(OH,O)
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
]
9.AF.30Zincostaurolite
(Zn,Li,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
<2
Al
 
9
[O
 
6
|(OH)
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
]
9.AF.40Norbergite
Mg
 
3
[(F,OH)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
]
9.AF.45Alleghanyite
Mn
2+
5
[(OH)
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
9.AF.45Chondrodite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
5
[(F,OH)
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
9.AF.45Reinhardbraunsite
Ca
 
5
[(OH,F)
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
9.AF.50Humite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
7
[(F,OH)
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
9.AF.50Manganhumite
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
7
[(OH)
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
9.AF.55Clinohumite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
9
[(F,OH)
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
]
9.AF.55Sonolite
Mn
2+
9
[(OH,F)
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
]
9.AF.55Hydroxylclinohumite
Mg
 
9
[(OH,F)
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
]
9.AF.60Leucophoenicite
Mn
2+
7
[(OH)
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
9.AF.65Ribbeite
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
5
[(OH)
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
9.AF.70Jerrygibbsite
Mn
2+
9
[(OH)
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
]
9.AF.75Franciscanite
Mn
3+
6
V
5+
0.5
[(O,OH)
 
3
|SiO
 
4
]
9.AF.75Örebroite
Mn
2+
3
(Fe
3+
 
,Sb
5+
 
)[(O,OH)
 
3
|SiO
 
4
]
9.AF.75Welinite
Mn
3+
6
(W
6+
 
,Mg)
 
0.7
[(O,OH)
 
3
|SiO
 
4
]
9.AF.80Ellenbergerite
Mg
 
6
Al
 
6
Ti[(OH)
 
6
|(HSiO
 
4
)
 
4
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
]
9.AF.85Chloritoid
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Mn
2+
 
)Al
 
2
[O|(OH)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
]
9.AF.85Magnesiochloritoid
MgAl
 
2
[O|(OH)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
]
9.AF.85Ottrélite
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)Al
 
2
[O|(OH)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
]
9.AF.90Poldervaartite
CaCa[SiO
 
3
OH](OH)
9.AF.90Olmiite
CaMn
2+
 
[SiO
 
3
(OH)](OH)
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
17.2.2Polylithionite
KLi
 
2
Al[(F,OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
17.2.3Leifite
(Na,H
 
2
O)Na
 
6
[F
 
2
|Be
 
2
Al
 
2
(Al,Si)Si
 
15
O
 
39
]
17.2.4Lepidolite
17.2.5Meliphanite
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Be,Al)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
(OH,F)]
17.2.6Sarcolite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
12
(Ca,K,Fe,Sr,Mg)
 
2
Al
 
8
Si
 
12
(P,Si)O
 
52
F
 
2
17.2.7Götzenite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
5
Ti[F
 
4
|(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
]
17.2.8Kuliokite-(Y)
Y
 
4
Al(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
F
 
5
17.2.9Zinnwaldite
KLiFe
2+
 
Al[(F,OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
17.2.10Magbasite
KBa(Al,Sc)(Mg,Fe)
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
20
F
 
2
17.2.11Eckermannite
[Na][Na
 
2
][(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
4
Al][(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
8
O
 
22
]

Other Names for Topaz

Synonyms:
ChrysolithosPhysalitePyrophysaliteSilver TopazTopaze
White Topaz
German names:
Topas
Italian names:
Topazio
Russian names:
Топаз
Traditional Chinese names:
黃玉
Varieties:
Imperial TopazPyknite

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:Rarely yellow, white, orange, greenish-yellow
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Topaz

Reference List:Parise, J.B., Cuff, C., and Moore, F.H. (1980) A neutron diffraction study of topaz: evidence for lower symmetry. Mineralogical Magazine: 43: 943.

Mineralogical Record (1995): 26: 5.

Holfert, J., Mroch, W., and Fuller, J. (1996) A Field Guide to Topaz and Associated Minerals of the Thomas Range, Utah (Topaz Mountain) 1. HM Publishing, Cypress, California.

Extra Lapis No. 13 (1997).

Shinoda, K. and Aikawa, N. (1997) IR active orientation of OH bending mode in topaz. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals: 24: 551-554.

Komatsu, K., Kagi H., Okada, T., Kuribayashi, T., Parise, J.B., and Kudoh, Y. (2005) Pressure dependence of the OH-stretching mode in F-rich natural topaz and topaz-OH. American Mineralogist: 90: 266-270.

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    Localities for Topaz

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