Birds and Nature Vol. 10 No. 5 [December 1901]Various
History
Birds and Nature Vol. 10 No. 5 [December 1901]
Various
Birds -- Periodicals; Natural history -- Periodicals
In the southern Urals, in the gold washings of the River Sanarka, yellow
Topazes are found closely resembling those of Brazil. Associated with
them are amethysts, rubies, chrysoberyls and many other precious stones.
Topaz crystals of good size and color are found quite abundantly in
Japan, although they have not yet been cut for gems to any extent. There
are many localities in the United States where Topaz occurs, and it is
often of gem quality. The group shown in the plate illustrates its
occurrence at Thomas Mountain, Utah, a locality forty miles north of
Sevier Lake. The crystals are found in cavities in the rock. They are
never very large, but are usually clear and bright. They occur in
somewhat similar fashion at Nathrop, Colorado. In the Eastern States
Topaz was first found at Trumbull, Conn. It is here quite opaque and not
suitable for gem purposes. Good gem Topaz has been found at Huntington
and Middletown, Conn., however, and especially at Stoneham, Maine. In
these localities it occurs in granite.
Of other stones which are sold under the name of Topaz the most common
is the so-called Spanish or Saxon topaz. This is simply smoky quartz
heated until it turns a yellow color. It can easily be distinguished
from true Topaz by the properties above given.
At the present time it is also quite the common practice to vend
ordinary colorless quartz under the name of Topaz. These practices are
harmful to the reputation of true Topaz, as these forms of quartz are
common and cheap and lack many of the desirable qualities of that stone.
There is also a so-called Oriental Topaz which is a yellow form of
corundum. It is heavier and harder than true Topaz, but its color and
luster are not generally considered as desirable as those of that
mineral. About forty years ago Topaz was quite popular as a gem and
commanded three or four times its present price. At the present not more
than two dollars a carat is often paid for the stone.
Topaz is often referred to by ancient writers and is mentioned in the
Bible as one of the stones to be put in the ephod of the high priest;
also as one of the gems worn by the King of Tyre and as forming one of
the gates of the Holy City. Curiously enough, the gem referred to in
these instances was the modern chrysolite, while where chrysolite is
spoken of our Topaz is usually meant.
A Topaz presented by Lady Hildegarde, wife of Theodoric, Count of
Holland, to a monastery in her native town, emitted at night, according
to legend, a light so brilliant that in the chapel where it was kept
prayers could be read at night without the aid of a light; a statement
which might well be true if the monks knew the prayers by heart.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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