Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Murzinka, Oural, Russia
SIZE : 15 x 8.5 x 10 cm

This is a pseudo-hexagonal crystal of blue topaz on a matrix. Its colour comes from a natural radiation. The transparent crystal measures 2.5 x 3 cm, it is well-crystallised.

Thanks to the gift of Mr. Alfred Lacroix, the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle obtained the sample for its collections in 1944. The sample comes from Murzinka in Russia and measures 15 x 8.5 x 10 cm.

It is currently exposed in the Treasure Room, within the Gallery of Mineralogy of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle

Photography : Louis-Dominique Bayle, © MNHN.

SPECIE : Topaz

HISTORY : Name inspired by the Greek word "τοπαζιον" [topazion] meaning "searching". This name was given to the yellow cristals found on the Topasos (Zabargat) island in the Red Sea

Species described by Anselmus Boaetius de Boodt (1150-1632), Belgian naturalist

Type-locality: undefined because species already known by the Ancients
ANCIENT NAME : Alumine fluatée siliceuse

CHEMICAL FORMULA : Al2 SiO4 (F,OH)2
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Orthorhombic
COLOR : Colourless, yellow, pink, orange, blue
DIAPHANIETY : Transparent to opaque
LUSTER : Vitreous
STREAK : White
MORPHOLOGY : Well-formed crystals, prismatic
HARDNESS : 8
DENSITY : 3,5-3,6

CHEMICAL CLASS : VIII - Silicates
GROUP : Topaz
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 8/B.02-70
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 9.AF.20

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MNHN N°144.7

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