Pink Topazes

Topaz occurs as stubby prismatic crystals of considerable size, which can weigh more than a hundred kilograms, and are characterised by vertical striations along the faces. Topaz is a very hard, heavy and brittle mineral, with perfect basal cleavage. It can be colourless, white, grey, yellow, orange, bluish, greenish, violet and pink. Infusible and insoluble, it is attacked only by sulphuric acid.

It is of pegmatitic-pneumatolytic origin, it sometimes also forms within cavities in granitic rocks.

The clearest and most colourful varieties are mostly used in jewellery, but they also arouse great interest among collectors.