Topaz is a stone quite popular all over the world and demanded in the manufacture of jewelry. Let us dwell on its features, healing and magical properties, scope and subtleties of use.
Origin history
The family of topazes includes stones of various colors, but it is believed that it was the yellow mineral that was found one of the first. It had a “sunny” hue - in India such stones are called “tapas”, which means “warm”, so we can safely say that it is the yellow mineral that the whole family owes its name to. However, there is another version according to which the stone was first found on Topazion Island in the Red Sea, now it has a different name - Zeberged.
The name of the golden stone was given by Pliny the Elder - a famous scientist of the time who wrote "Natural History". Translated from Greek, “topaz” by transcription is close to such concepts as “fire”, “heat” and “flame”. Thus, for several centuries, all the stones of golden yellow and brown shades were called topazes and only at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries the name was assigned to a separate type of natural minerals.
The properties
Yellow topaz is a fluorosilicate with an admixture of aluminum. This is a semiprecious stone with a wide tint range, including lemon, golden, honey, brown and thick yellow tones. It occurs in nature in the form of rather large crystals in the form of columns or prisms, when exposed to high temperature, it begins to change color to pink, and if the stone is additionally irradiated, the color becomes wine-yellow first.then orange brown and finally blue. The main physical characteristics of yellow topaz include:
- shine - glass;
- degree of transparency - transparent;
- hardness - 8;
- cleavage is perfect;
- kink - of a cancerous type;
- density - 3.5-3.6 g / cm3
Under natural conditions, yellow topazes may contain inclusions that are liquid, gas and gas-liquid. Usually they are located in the cracks of the stone and resemble small bubbles.
It should be noted that in addition to ultraviolet, topazes are sensitive to sulfuric acid and are destroyed by its action.
Place of Birth
Yellow topazes are mined in various parts of our planet, and each deposit is distinguished by its tinted gamut of stones. So, in Europe gems are found in Germany, Russia and Ukraine - the minerals here are quite large in size and high quality crystals. Brown and golden topazes are delivered from Brazil to the gemstone market, while Sri Lanka has discovered mostly orange stones.
Until the middle of the last century, the Ilmensky mineralogical reserve located in the South Urals was considered one of the largest topaz deposits in Russia. In Ilmen, pegmatite veins containing cavities with a large number of topazes were found. But this is by no means the only deposit of yellow topazes in our country - lemon-colored stones were found near the village of Alabashka, and light brown stones are mined along the river near Urulga in Transbaikalia, which is considered to be a feature of ultraviolet burnout.
More recently, a huge number of stones came to the market from the Volodarsk-Volynsky deposit, located in Ukraine, they produced stones of wine-yellow color of excellent quality and large sizes. In 1965, yellow topaz weighing 117 kg was discovered. The Ukrainian deposit owns many of the most famous gems that adorn the world-famous expositions in large museums. Unfortunately, at the moment, Ukrainian mines are mothballed, however, according to experts, there are still quite a large number of topazes in them.
In recent years, quite a few gems found in Pakistan and Afghanistan have appeared on the market.
Healing properties
Since ancient times, topazes of yellow shades have been used for medicinal purposes, they have a general strengthening and healing effect on the body, but a particularly positive effect of the stone is manifested when it is included in the treatment of the following diseases:
- cough and other colds;
- heaviness in the stomach and intestines, heartburn;
- loss of appetite;
- nervous disorders.
Ancient healers believed that yellow topazes significantly improve a person’s state of mind, eliminate signs of nervous exhaustion and apathy, and give their owner a state of peace and tranquility.
Healers from ancient times have recommended wearing a stone to everyone who suffers from insomnia, and also faces nightmares and bouts of fear.
Mystical Properties
The magical properties of topaz were mentioned in antiquity - the inhabitants of Egypt, Assyria and Babylon used the mineral as a means of protection against madness, evil eyes, and even taming the storm. Topaz is mentioned in the Bible as one of the 12 biblical stones that encrusted the linen bag of the High Priest at the time he was conducting his worship.
Yellow topazes give the most powerful magical properties. It is believed that they are especially useful for the fair sex - the gem helps them to maintain beauty and freshness for many years. Topaz have established themselves as excellent amulets that contribute to the attainment of conjugal happiness and the conception of healthy offspring.However, this stone is also useful for men - it establishes complex family relationships, brings together good people and in every possible way helps to find faithful comrades for life.
The yellow stone eliminates the negative, therefore it is indispensable in building diplomatic relations, while the owner of the stone not only establishes friendly contacts with people, but also more clearly formulates his own personal goals and objectives. This stone is suitable for representatives of all zodiac signs, but it is especially useful for people born under the constellation Scorpio. Topaz also favors the signs of Air - under the influence of the mineral, they become more calm and seasoned.
Topaz allows twins to smooth out sharp corners when communicating and to control their emotions. Representatives of Aquarius wearing topaz develop intuitive abilities that lead to better family relationships.
In the life of Taurus, Lviv, Aries and Capricorns, stone brings peace and also helps to improve the material situation.
Scope of use
Yellow topazes are used mainly in the jewelry sector, it is classified as a semiprecious stone, but in its beauty is not inferior to gems of the very first category. Due to the variety of shades, stones are used to create the most interesting jewelry, light topazes are most often framed in white gold or silver, stones of more saturated colors - in pink or red gold. Topazes look stylish in combination with rhinestone and diamonds, jewelers also often create jewelry, the main one of which becomes a tandem of yellow topazes with emeralds and rubies.
Products with topazes are suitable for absolutely any kind of events: a serious meeting, a romantic dinner or a social evening. In any situation, they create an atmosphere of warmth and joy around them, harmoniously merge into light summer looks, and in winter create a sunny mood around. Yellow topaz earrings, rings, brooches and pendants can always be a good gift for any occasion.
However, keep in mind that in order for the gem to fully reveal its wonderful properties to you, you should give preference only to natural specimens. It is no secret that many unscrupulous manufacturers often give out ordinary quartz for topaz. It is very simple to distinguish these breeds from each other - you just need to draw a stone on the glass: a real topaz will leave its mark on it, but a fake will not.
Fine jewelry from topaz should be stored in the sun, you need to handle them as carefully as possible - only then will the stone become truly beautiful and show all its useful properties in full.
You will learn more about topazes from the video below.
