Topaz (GEM crystal) (1969 find)

Item Description

Some of the finest examples of natural blue crystallized Topaz in the world are those from the famous Xanda Mine in Brazil. The best examples of these crystals are striking for the superb size, color and excellent crystal form. This piece is a wonderful icy blue color, highly lustrous, very sharp, GEM QUALITY crystal Topaz free of matrix. The broad front face on the piece is notably glassy and slick, along with the complimenting pyramidal face on the reverse side. The top edge of the termination is nicked in a few spots, but the piece is still in very good shape all around, and it's literally like a piece of beautiful blue glass. The sides of the piece show some stark etching, a real dichotomy from the beautifully smooth faces on the front and back. This piece dates back to a find in 1969, and a great example of the old material that was coming out of this locality at the time. From the collection of Colorado mining legend, Dave Bergman. Dave is now retired, but among other things, he was the foreman and primary person in charge of recovering specimens at the famous Sweet Home Mine near Alma, Colorado during the late 1970s. He is also the maternal grandfather of Brian Kosnar. See Dave's photo mining at the Sweet Home on page 58 of Peter Bancroft's book "Gem and Crystal Treasures".