Introduction

Topaz gemstones come in a wide variety of colours. Common natural colours in Australia are clear, pale yellow and pale blue (see also Google Arts and Culture - Gems from the Safe). Some varieties of topaz have other common names:

• precious topaz (yellow or orange topaz),

• pycnite (a columnar or yellow-white variety of topaz)

• imperial topaz (yellow, brown, red, pink or pink-orange topaz),

• mystic topaz (colourless topaz with an artificial coating, giving a rainbow effect).

• Gouttes d'eau (means water drop, colourless cut topaz crystals, similar to diamonds).

• chrysolithos,

• physalite, and

• pyrophysalite.

Topaz is often associated with fluorite, cassiterite, and beryl. It is sometimes confused with quartz, although topaz is harder and forms different crystal shapes. Like ‘fools gold’, there are varieties of false topaz. Sometimes yellow quartz or citrine, is called topaz or topaz-quartz. Yellow corundum is called oriental topaz and yellowish-green andranite is called topazolite