Gem-quality naturally blue topaz occurs in Mason County, Texas. Known as “Texas topaz,” this gem is highly sought after in the United States because of its domestic provenance and rare natural blue color. To date, no studies have identified gemological or compositional characteristics that could distinguish Texas topaz from topaz sourced elsewhere. This study provides a historical account of topaz from Mason County and discusses its geologic origin, compositional characteristics, manufacture, and significance to the gem trade.
Learn more about this topic by Roy Bassoo, Diane Eames, Matthew F. Hardman, Kenneth Befus, and Ziyin Sun as featured in Gems & Gemology, Winter 2023, Vol. 59, No. 4 on gia.edu.
Read the complete article here.
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