Specifications
Descrizione
Locality: Katlang Topaz Mines, Mardan District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Katlang topaz comes from Ghundao, a small hill of grey recrystallised limestone that rises from the farmland of Mardan District about 4 km north of the town of Katlang. A 1986 study in Gems & Gemology by Edward Gübelin and colleagues described the deposit. Narrow calcite veins there hold pink topaz crystals up to 3 cm long, along with larger amounts of reddish brown, tan and colourless topaz.
Katlang topaz is unusual in chemistry. Some of the fluorine normally found in topaz is replaced by hydroxyl, which slightly changes its optical properties and density. Gübelin and his co-authors found that the pink colour comes mainly from traces of chromium, and they reported more than 70,000 carats of gem-quality pink topaz from the deposit by 1986.
The limestone of Ghundao hill is believed to be Silurian to Devonian in age, perhaps about 400 million years old. The topaz itself is much younger. A later study found it crystallised at only about 230 °C during the Eocene, in the mountain-building event that raised the Himalaya, rather than from fluids given off by a granite.
This one of a kind champagne topaz specimen has a soft peach-champagne color with a broad, chunky crystal form and a nicely defined natural termination. It shows the flat faces and sharp geometry topaz is known for, but it is not overly clean or sterile looking. You can see internal veils, natural fractures, cloudy zones, and a few small inclusions, which give it a more honest mineral-specimen look. The color is light and warm rather than dark, and that softer tone works well with the size and shape of the piece.
Topaz forms in fluorine-rich pegmatites and late-stage pockets, where the chemistry allows large, well-structured crystals to grow. Pakistan is well known for producing collectible topaz crystals, especially material with good shape and decent transparency. On this specimen, the appeal is not just the color. It is the combination of shape, internal character, and the natural unpolished surfaces that make it feel like a real cabinet piece instead of cut rough or a trimmed display crystal.
People are often drawn to champagne topaz for its calmer, less flashy look. In metaphysical circles, it is often associated with steadiness, clear thinking, and grounded confidence. It tends to appeal to people who like minerals that feel refined without looking too polished or loud.
Chemical Composition: Al2SiO4(F,OH)2
Quantity: 1pc
With this product, you will get the actual stone in the photograph.