Topaz – Harry & Co Jewellery

Etymology and History

The name topaz is believed to be derived from the Greek word 'Τοπάζιος' or 'Τοπάζιον'.
It is named after St. Johns Island in the Red Sea, where a yellow stone (now believed to be chrysolite) was mined in ancient times.
The name topaz was first applied to the mineral in 1737.
Ancient Sri Lanka exported native oriental topazes to Greece and ancient Egypt.
The word topaz may be related to the Sanskrit word 'तपस्' meaning heat or fire.
Nicols, the author of one of the first systematic treatises on minerals and gemstones, dedicated two chapters to topaz in 1652.
In the Middle Ages, the name topaz was used to refer to any yellow gemstone.
Many English translations of the Bible mention topaz, but it likely refers to chrysolite instead.
Topaz was believed to cure lunacy and provide protection from danger while traveling by the ancient Romans.
During the Middle Ages, topaz was believed to enhance mental powers.

Topaz is used to make jewelry and other adornments.
Orange topaz is the birthstone for November and the state gemstone of Utah.
Blue topaz is the state gemstone of Texas.
Topaz comes in a variety of colors, including colorless, golden brown, and pink.
Imperial topaz is yellow, pink, or pink-orange.
Topaz in its natural state is colorless, often with a greyish cast.
It can be confused with citrine, but topaz is heavier.
Impurities and treatments can give topaz various colors, including wine red, pale gray, and pink.
Imperial topaz stones can fade on exposure to sunlight.
Blue topaz is rare and is often heat treated and irradiated to achieve a darker blue color.

Topaz is commonly found in silicic igneous rocks, such as granite and rhyolite.
It crystallizes in granitic pegmatites or in vapor cavities in rhyolite lava flows.
Topaz can be found in various countries, including Russia, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Brazil, and the United States.
Brazil is one of the largest producers of topaz, with some crystals reaching boulder size.
The largest recorded topaz, known as the American Golden Topaz, weighed 157.75 carats.

Reference	URL
Glossary	https://harryandcojewellery.com.au/blogs/glossary/topaz
Wikipedia	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topaz
Wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q134985
Knowledge Graph	https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/07qmk