Where can I find Texas Blue Topaz?
The Texas blue topaz became the official state gem when Governor Preston Earnest Smith signed House Concurrent Resolution No. 12 on March 26, 1969. Texas blue topaz is found in the Llano uplift area in Central Texas, especially west to northwest of Mason.
What is the biggest Topaz ever found in North America?
The history is rich, but the topaz samples are seductive, including the largest topaz ever found in North America (1904): 6,480 carats. This stone was sold by its finder to the Smithsonian Institution for $75. It’s here on loan from the U.S. National Museum of Natural History. In 1969, Texas named the blue topaz its state gemstone.
Where can you find Topaz in Mason County?
At the Hoffmann Ranch, another spot where the public can range the hills in search of the valuable stones, a caretaker concedes that the pursuit is often fruitless."The topaz has pretty well played out," he said. Topaz was first recognized in Mason County in 1904.
What does Texas Topaz look like?
Texas topaz is usually colorless to white, though some of the most beautiful and startling gemstones are in the light-blue to sky-blue range. In color, size and clarity, Texas topaz is considered among the best in the United States.
Where can I dig for topaz in Texas?
Three ranches in Mason County offer public topaz hunting—Bar M Ranch, Lindsay Ranch and Seaquist Ranch. All require advance reservations. The Lindsay and Seaquist ranches are open mid-January through fall, and Bar M Ranch is open from February through September.
Where is the most common place to find topaz?
Topaz Mountain is one of the world's great places to find topaz. If you search the washes and slopes on the south side of the mountain you will find small topaz crystals glimmering in the sunlight. If you search seams in the rhyolite, you may find gem-quality crystals.
Where can topaz be found naturally?
Today, topaz deposits are found in Brazil, United States, Madagascar, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia, Zimbabwe Mexico, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Russia, and China. Topaz can feature the amber-gold of cognac or the blush of a peach, and any shade of warm brown or orange in between.
Where can I find gemstones in Texas?
In the Central Texas region of Llano is where topaz, quartz crystals, agate, onyx, pyrite, feldspar crystals, mica, garnet, Llanonite (only present in Llano, TX), gold, fluorite, hematite, blue quartz, smoky quartz, platinum, tourmaline, opal species and many more can be present in the Llano basin.
What rock is topaz found in?
Topaz form typically in igneous rocks like pegmatites, granites, and rhyolites.
How do you identify topaz in the field?
There are a few easy ways to tell a real topaz apart from quartz. The first characteristic to keep in mind is the hardness factor. An original topaz will scratch glass while quartz will not leave a mark on it. Moreover, a real topaz is also cool to touch and it gets electrified easily.
Where in the United States can you find topaz?
In the American Southwest, topaz is found in San Diego County, California, the Thomas Mountain Range of Utah, Pikes Peak, Colorado, and the Llano Uplift region of Texas.
How much is a topaz worth?
Colorless topaz, from which blue topaz is produced (via irradiation and heat), is available in sizes up to 100 cts. and greater, and sells for less than $8/ct. Brown topaz fetches similar prices. In contrast, precious topaz (a.k.a. 'imperial' topaz) in rich orange colors fetches prices in excess of $1000/ct.
Where can I mine topaz?
The topaz is found and mined in various places all over Asia: Japan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the renowned blue topaz of Sri Lanka.
Is there gold in Texas creeks?
The majority of the gold in this area seems to come from the Llano Uplift. This is undoubtedly the richest area in Texas for an amateur prospector, but nearly all of the small creeks that flow from the Llano River have some amount of gold in them.
Can opal be found in Texas?
Opals In Texas Although 95% of Opal is mined in Australia, there are small deposits in America that have found Opal. There is only one deposit in Texas at the Catahoula Formation, a fossilized wood structure that stretches along the eastern Gulf coast of Texas and into Louisiana.
Are there emeralds in Texas?
Taking on a range of stunning colors and names, beryl is a gemstone of remarkable beauty. Two of its notable forms are emeralds and aquamarines. It's the aquamarine type of beryl that can be found in Texas.
Is blue topaz rare?
Naturally occurring blue topaz is extremely rare. That's why virtually all blue topaz used in jewellery is heat or irradiation treated.
How expensive is topaz?
Colorless topaz, from which blue topaz is produced (via irradiation and heat), is available in sizes up to 100 cts. and greater, and sells for less than $8/ct. Brown topaz fetches similar prices. In contrast, precious topaz (a.k.a. 'imperial' topaz) in rich orange colors fetches prices in excess of $1000/ct.
Where are blue topaz found?
Most are found in Brazil but a few natural blue topaz gemstones were discovered in the United States in Texas. Blue topaz is now the state gem of Texas.
What is the price of topaz?
cost in India ranges between ₹ 350 to ₹ 450 per carat ($5.4 to $7), depending on origin, color, clarity, size, and cut, etc. Color: Color is the most influential factor when determining the cost of Yellow Topaz.
Where to hunt topaz in Texas?
Lindsay Ranch might be the most popular destination in Texas for topaz hunting, due in no small part to the variety of lodging options available on site.
Where can I find blue topaz?
Blue Topaz is the state gem of Texas, so naturally, I was wondering where it could be found in the Lone Star State. It turns out there are a few places that are known for their topaz finds.
How Do I Search For Topaz?
The hosts at each ranch are very knowledgeable and will give you plenty of pointers before they send you on your way, but it’s nice to have a good idea of what to expect before you show up.
When is Topaz hunting season?
Hours: You will check in with the owner at one of two times – 8:30 or 9:30, and then you are free to hunt all day, 7 days a week! Like the other ranches in the area, they are closed for topaz hunting from November through the end of January due to deer hunting season.
Can topaz scratch quartz?
These crystals are easily mistaken for quartz (of which there is also plenty in the area) but they can be distinguished by their crystal structure, hardness, and density. Topaz will scratch quartz since it has a hardness of 8, compared to that of 7 for quartz.
What is the color of Texas topaz?
Texas topaz is usually colorless to white, though some of the most beautiful and startling gemstones are in the light-blue to sky-blue range. In color, size and clarity, Texas topaz is considered among the best in the United States. "Mason County is known for the best-quality stones," Seaquist said. "We have a lot of geology classes from the University of Texas come out here to look for it." But they don't find much.
Where is the largest topaz crystal found?
Mason County boasts the largest gem-quality topaz crystal ever found in North America. It is a 1,296-gram pale blue crystal that now resides in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. Most pieces are considerably smaller, generally less than a couple of inches long with a diameter of less than an inch.
When was topaz first discovered?
Topaz was first recognized in Mason County in 1904. Old-timers remember stumbling onto the quartzlike gemstone while searching the creek beds for arrowheads. Sometimes the stones were so big, they could be used as doorstops. But it was the arrowhead that had value in those days. The topaz was just another pretty rock.
What is the name of the stone that is cut with a computer?
Then, in 1974, a San Angelo physicist and his brother, a science teacher, came up with a special way to cut the stone. Called the "Lone Star cut ," the intricate, computer-designed cut creates the image of a perfect five- pointed star in the center of the stone.
Where was the largest topaz found?
Mark Hahn of Bar M Ranch, with dog Zeke along for the ride. The largest topaz found on Mark’s property was as big as his thumbnail. It was discovered by a family from India, whose minivan got stuck in the mud during their visit.
Where to hunt blue topaz in Texas?
To hunt topaz in Texas, especially the rare blue topaz found only in Mason County, prospectors need some basic equipment, lots of patience, and at least a moderate case of topaz fever.
What is the state gemstone of Texas?
In 1969, Texas named the blue topaz its state gemstone. Just off the town square, I find Sandstone Cellars offers a wide array of Texas red wines, harvested from 13 different vineyards in the nearby hickory sands. A few steps away is the Odeon Theater, the longest continuously operating movie theater in west Texas, built in 1928.
What is blue topaz?
The intense blue color of this topaz specimen is probably natural. Today topaz is often irradiated to create artificial blue colors for jewelry. Many times it also has inclusions, or imperfections, inside the gem. Look closely at this specimen, and you'll see clear through to the other side. It is very rare to find a large topaz like this one so clear, and with natural blue color! Blue topaz is also found in Mason County.
What is the state gemstone of Texas?
Topaz, (Al2 [F/OH2/SiO4] ,) is the Texas state gemstone as well as the birthstone for the month of November. The Texas blue topaz became the official state gem when Governor Preston Earnest Smith signed House Concurrent Resolution No. 12 on March 26, 1969.
What is the birthstone of November?
Topaz, the birthstone for November and the -4th Anniversary Gem, has been prized for several thousands of years in antiquity. Topaz can come in a variety of colors, but the prized Imperial Topaz , adored by Russian Czars, is orange with pink undertones. Named for an island, Topazos, in the Red Sea where the Romans found the gem, it has come to symbolize consistency, faithfulness and friendship and is believed to have calming and curative powers. It is also said to prove loyalty in friends and associates by changing colors in the presence of poison. During the Middle Ages, topaz was used to cure mental illness and was thought to delay death.
How does Thomas Range topaz get its color?
Thomas Range topaz obtained their color from natural radiation during their formation in vent pipes which trapped volatile gases in cavities within the host rhyolites. When unearthed they glow with a vibrant sherry color and with exposure to direct sunlight for awhile will generally turn clear. The sunlight (also UV radiation) reacts with the color centers in the topaz crystal structure displacing electrons which in turn change the color. However, some locations do produce topaz that fade to a beautiful pink color. Some topaz are "tougher" than others and do not have as weak a cleavage plane as the Thomas Range topaz which usually they cleave with a flat top. A favorite location for the mineral collectors and rockhounds is called "The Cove" on the southern end of the Thomas Range.
Why do people wear topaz?
Its mystical curative powers waxed and waned with the phases of the moon: it was said to cure insomnia, asthma, and hemorrhages.
When was the Lone Star cut named the state gemstone cut of Texas?
In 1977 , the lone star cut was named the official state gemstone cut of Texas by House Concurrent Resolution No. 97.
Is topaz a hard mineral?
This hard gem is an aluminum fluorisilicate and is next in hard ness to carboru ndum and diamonds (two of the hardest natural minerals around). Until the 1950s, topaz was generally known as a yellow or golden gemstone. Since then, routine radiation and heat treatment of pale-colored topaz to turn it blue has changed the modern public's perception of this gem. Constructed of atoms of aluminum, silicon, fluorine, and oxygen, topaz usually is colorless to pale blue or yellow - although pink stones can be produced by heating the golden brown topaz from Ouro Preto, Brazil.
Where is the largest topaz found?
The largest gem topaz deposits are in Brazil and Russia, followed closely by Mexico and the USA. In fact, Texas, Colorado, and Utah hold some of the finest deposits of the stone, as is evident by the fact that an entire cut is named after the state of Texas!
Who made the Texas topaz?
The lone star Texas topaz has a fairly interesting back-story. The rough design of the lone star cut was devised by Dr. Paul W. Worden Jr , a physicist from Stanford University in December 1973. He got acquainted with the basic tricks of faceting while visiting his brother Gary B. Worden, a science teacher and gem faceted, in Texas for the holidays. Inspired by the Texan Lone Star, he hand-crafted a five-pointed star in a synthetic golden sapphire. However, the resultant stone was excessively reflective, much to his discontent. In an attempt to improve the reflective surface, he re-designed the cut with the aid of computer software after returning to Stanford. He then sent this re-designed stone to his brother Gary, who fine-tuned the cut into a bright and distinct five-pointed star, which was visible perfectly even from a distance.#N#Following this, a cousin of the Worden brothers, Win Brown persuaded a Midland County commissioner, Tom Craddick, into adopting the lone star cut as the official state gemstone cut of Texas, which led to the publishing of House Concurrent Resolution #97, signed by Governor Dolph Briscoe in May 1977. The resolution cited the lone star cut as the official state gemstone cut of Texas and also mentioned the specifications for faceting the cut, thus making the design available to anyone who chose to use it.
What is the most popular topaz color?
The most popular color in topaz, the swiss blue topaz is a striking color that is often considered similar to the cornflower blue of blue sapphire. While it is popular, it is also considerably more expensive than the white or sky blue topaz as it takes 3-4 years of steady treatment to produce the perfect color.
How long does it take to cure London blue topaz?
With the longest treatment time of over 5-6 years, the London blue topaz is a sublime color that is as expensive as it is beautiful. This darker hue is as popular as the swiss blue topaz in the lone star cut.
How long does it take to get blue topaz?
The blue color of topaz is rare in nature. The white topaz is ideally treated for 3 to 4 weeks to produce this beautiful sky blue hue, which is extremely popular with younger patrons, looking for the lone star cut in lighter effervescent tones.
What is the best gemstone to use for a lone star cut?
While topaz makes for the ideal gemstone because of its high hardness (measures 8 on the Moh scale of hardness), it is interesting to note that the lone star cut can be made on other hard stones to sapphires. Some of our most popular creations are lone star sapphires, lone star rubies, and other lone star gemstones.
