Description
Ouro Preto, Iron Quadrangle, Minas Gerais, Brazil
The rarest color of the imperial topaz from the Ouro Preto area is purple, and specimens even containing traces of the color as phantoms or color zones are highly sought for there rarity and beauty. This outstanding topaz is deep purple with red hues in some lights. The edges of the crystal have minor scuffing which is not distracting against the highly lustrous surface. The crystal has good translucency, so the color glows easily in most light. The termination is complete all around. Topaz crystals from Ouro Preto are found in severely weathered and discontinuous veins in decomposed carbonate host rock. Their formation is highly debated. This is one of the only localities in the world that produces stable, brightly colored topaz crystals in red, pink, orange, and purple. The compositions of these topazes are higher than normal in hydroxyl substitutions for fluorine, adding to the mystery. Because they are found in nests of clay, most pieces are singly terminated and without matrix. At 5.8 cm tall, this is no shrinking violet. (Apologies for the bad pun)
Ex James Zigras
5.80 x 2.00 x 1.00 cm
