Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : China
SIZE : 12.5 x 8.5 cm

This sample is a splendid gemmeous brown crystal of topaz. It measures 12.5 x 8.5 cm.

It comes from China and has been acquired thanks to support of Total. Its precise locality is still unknown. Despite the more opened market of China to occidental market, the localities of some samples are still difficult to know.

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°193.57

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