Topaz

A classic example of the famous Murzinka Topazes from the Urals in Russia. This locality is one of the most historic granitic pegmatites in the world, producing some iconic “old world” specimens most notably of Beryl and Topaz. Good gem Topaz crystals from this locality are few and far between. This attractive large thumbnail / toenail specimen is a wonderful example from Murzinka showing classic textbook orthorhombic form along with very sharp, defined, lustrous, smooth crystal faces on all sides. I would say the color is a VERY pale blue, as when I put it against a white piece of paper, I could see only a faint blue tone, so it’s not completely colorless. The upper portion of the crystal (near the termination) is in very good condition with only superficial nicks. The base of the crystal is cleaved, the same as nearly every other single / off-matrix Topaz that I’ve seen from this locality. I have no idea when this crystal was mined. I bought it from a Russian mineral dealer in Munich in 2010, and he didn’t speak any English, and I don’t speak Russian, so I couldn’t find out if this was from an old historic find, or from a newer discovery. Regardless, it’s a really good example of Urals Topaz, and if you collect this material, or Russian minerals, or just gem crystals in general, you don’t see a lot of these on the market, so don’t miss out on this gorgeous full-bodied crystal. Specimen# GEMXL71518