Topaz

Pure topaz is colorless and transparent but is usually tinted by impurities. Typically the gemstone is wine, yellow, pale gray, reddish-orange, or blue brown. Orange or “Precious” is the November birthstone, the symbol of friendship and the state gemstone of Utah. “Imperial” is yellow, pink or pink-orange. “Brazilian Imperial” can have a bright yellow to deep golden brown hue.

Blue topaz is the state gemstone of Texas. Naturally occurring blue is quite rare. Typically, colorless or pale material is heat treated and irradiated to produce a more desired darker blue.

Topaz is found in Russia, Afghanistan , Sri Lanka, Czech Republic, Germany, Norway, Pakistan, Italy, Sweden, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, Nigeria, and the US. It has a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale.