topaz

Also known as Al2SiO4(F, OH)2

Topaz is a silicate mineral made of aluminum and fluorine with the chemical formula AlSiO(F, OH). It is used as a gemstone in jewelry and other adornments. Common topaz in its natural state is colorless, though trace element impurities can make it pale blue or golden-brown to yellow-orange. Topaz is often treated with heat or radiation to make it a deep blue, reddish-orange, pale green, pink, or purple.

AI overview

Topaz is a hard mineral containing aluminum and fluorine that is prized as a gemstone for jewelry and decorative items. While topaz occurs naturally in colorless, pale blue, or golden-brown forms, it is frequently treated with heat or radiation to produce deeper, more vibrant colors like deep blue, pink, or purple.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Key facts

Mineral.system: Orthorhombic
Mineral.name: Topaz
Mineral.category: Nesosilicate
Mineral.boxbgcolor: 8F573F
Mineral.boxtextcolor: FFFFFF
Mineral.image: Topaze, quartz fumé 1.jpg
Mineral.imagesize: 270px
Mineral.caption: Topaz crystal on white matrix
Mineral.IMAsymbol: Tpz
Mineral.strunz: 9.AF.35
Mineral.class: Dipyramidal (mmm)H–M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m)
Mineral.symmetry: Pbnm
Mineral.unit cell: a = 4.65 Å, b = 8.8 Å,c = 8.4 Å; Z = 4
Mineral.color: Colorless (if impurities are absent), white, blue, brown, orange, gray, yellow, yellowish brown, green, pink, reddish pink, or even red
Mineral.habit: Prismatic crystal
Mineral.twinning: Rarely on [111]
Mineral.cleavage: [001] Perfect
Mineral.fracture: Subconchoidal to uneven

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Image: Topaze Brésil.jpg

Show 8 more facts

Nickel-Strunz '10th ed', review of (9th ed/ 2009 update): 9.AF.35
Commons category: Topaz
chemical formula: Al₂SiO₄F₂
Nickel-Strunz 9th edition (updated 2009): 9.AF.35
Mohs' hardness: 8
density: 3.530
IMA Mineral Symbol: Tpz
Strunz 8th edition (series ID, updated): VIII/A’.03

Sources (3)

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Article

10 sections

Contents

Etymology
History
Gemstone
Structure
Characteristics
Localities and occurrence
Mining
See also
References
External links

Topaz is a nesosilicate mineral, and more specifically, an aluminosilicate mineral. It is one of the hardest naturally occurring minerals and has a relatively low index of refraction. It has the orthorhombic crystal system and a dipyramidial crystal class.