Description
This topaz crystal is from the Skardu District, Gilgit, Gilgit Baltistan (Northern Areas), Pakistan. Local miners dig in the granitic pegmatites in the area looking for crystal filled pockets. There are several gem varieties of minerals found in them including topaz. It is a silicate and it contains the elements Al, Si, O, F, and H. It can be found in a variety of colors which are created by different trace impurities in the crystal lattice. This is an almost colorless transparent crystal with an orthorhombic habit and a glass luster. There are a couple of well defined reddish spessatite garnet crystals included in the crystal. It also has has some minor bysolite matrix attached. It measures 15/16 x 13/16 x 9/16 inches or 24 x 21 x 14 mm. It weighs 75 carats.
