Blue Topaz

A hefty topaz measuring 610 grms in weight, and standing impressively tall at over 4 inches. This comes from the famous 1960s find at the Xanda Mine, still known as the best single strike of blue topaz on the planet. The pieces have a characteristic riveting ice-blue color, and interesting etch and dissolution patterns on the sides. What you really want is a good termination, retaining some of the classic chisel-point terminations of the crystal. From that point, the sides of these typically disappear into cityscape compleexities of etch patterns, and this one is no different: the trick is to find a piece that has "interesting sides" and not plain ugly sides. This one, I think, edges more to the really interesting category and it is hard to describe, so trust me - better in person! It comes from the noted collection of Dr. Dick Webster, one of the founders of plastic surgery and a major mineral collector several decades ago. This collection just surfaced through his children, to the market, with a friend of mine.

Unknown Owner

Product details

Species

Topaz

SizeCabinet

Dimensions10.8 x 7.0 x 5.8 cm

Locality

Brazil, Minas Gerais, Virgem da Lapa

Added on10/23/2024

Comments

Known provenance

2024/08