Topaz is a very hard stone that has components such as fluorine , aluminum oxide and silica . It is a term whose etymology refers us to the Latin word topazĭus , which in turn derives from the Greek language.
This mineral , which due to its composition is part of the group of aluminosilicates , owes its name to a confusion. According to Pliny the Elder , the name topaz derives from Topazos , an island in the Red Sea . It is currently known that the place actually has deposits of olivine , a substance similar to topaz.
Brazil, Mexico, USA, Sweden, la Czech Republic, Pakistan y Japan son algunos de los countries que cuentan con las principales reservas mundiales de topacio.
Characteristics of topaz
Yellowish in color , topaz is usually considered a precious stone . Through various methods, such as the application of gamma rays, it is possible to change the tone of the stone . That is why there are red, bluish, green and other colored topazes, which are used in jewelry .
Other interesting facts about topaz as a gemstone are the following:
- Natural blue topaz is one of the most unique that exists and is very rare to find, although where it is most likely to be found is in Northern Ireland , England and Scotland .
- The natural topaz that is most sought after in the world and, therefore, has the highest value, is considered to be the so-called imperial one , which is identified by its warm color. The richest place in it is considered to be Brazil .
- In addition to the country of Rio, other places that are also rich in topaz are China, Australia, Afghanistan, Madagascar, Mexico, Namibia and Nigeria , among others.
- It is established that topaz is the stone that can act as an amulet for those born in the month of November.
- It is assigned to the planet Venus .
- The Egyptians revolved many stories and legends around this stone. Thus, among other things, they established that the sun god, Ra , was responsible for coloring and giving it its golden shine . Hence, at that time the topaz became an amulet that was considered to protect against evil in general.
Risk of fractures
It is important to note that, beyond its hardness , topaz breaks quite easily.
This particularity makes working with it somewhat complicated, since it requires a lot of caution to avoid fractures.
Telenovela “Topacio”
“Topacio” , on the other hand, is the title of a soap opera that aired in Venezuela between 1984 and 1985 . Starring Víctor Cámara and Grecia Colmenares , it was an adaptation of a novel broadcast in the '70s .
Chony Fuentes,Nohely Arteaga yAlberto Marin fueron otros de los actores que participaron en esta novela que giraba en torno a la historia de amor entre Topaz y Jorge Luis, una pobre niña huérfana con problemas de ceguera y un heredero de una adinerada familia.
A type of hummingbird
Lastly, the topaz hummingbird , also known as the colicanelo candela topaz , is a bird that is part of the family known as Trochilidae .
With the scientific name Topaza pella , it lives on the American continent. It is usually found in humid jungles.