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Posted by: MikeS Feb 15 2015, 02:02 AM

My friend and fellow claim owner went up to our claim for the first time this year on Saturday. He found the top of a colorless Topaz crystal that is nearly flawless inside. 193.5 carats(38.7 grams). We just confirmed it with a scratch test and a specific gravity test. It has some red and green inclusions near or on the surface. Looks like we can add this to the growing list of minerals that can be found on our claim.
I was able to take some photos.

Posted by: Crusty Feb 15 2015, 08:53 AM

Wow, very nice find!

Posted by: mandbh Feb 15 2015, 12:55 PM

That's awesome! How exciting! Congrats

Posted by: llamabox Feb 15 2015, 01:03 PM

Hoping to see a long field report here soon.

Posted by: swizz Feb 15 2015, 02:40 PM

Congratulations, that is stunning!

Posted by: Mrs.CP Feb 15 2015, 03:09 PM

Score!! That is a fantastic Topaz and what a great way for him to start the new year on the claim. Like I said...good things to come for you guys because it's your time! So excited for you guys, you will have to make sure you keep a camera or video recorder (for your own records) on hand for those action shots when those beauties are being pulled out.

Looks like a healed face (?) on the one side giving it very cool features, looks incredible!!

Congratulations on the great claim finds guys! Tell him I said "congrats" from me also please Mike!
You guys "rock" literally!!

Posted by: GemHuntinMama Feb 15 2015, 03:09 PM

Wow - very nice, Mike! We drove past Pilot's Peak yesterday - the weather was so pretty and I'm glad you had such success!

Posted by: Rockytop Feb 15 2015, 04:16 PM

Congratulations, very nice find!

Posted by: MikeS Feb 15 2015, 06:25 PM

I promise to pull my cameras out more often and use them this year.

I don't see any healing on there but besides a few chips on the side(pic 1 left side) it is natural face on the sides and several small terminations on the top. Pic 3 shows the fractured bottom (perfect basal cleavage). My guess is this is the top of a larger crystal that must of been 400 ct. or more.

When we started prospecting the area over a decade ago we were originally looking for topaz crystals but found just about everything else first. Now we found one! There is only 2 well known areas for cut quality, bi-colored topaz in the world.... Ural Mts. Russia and Colorado, right in the area we are working in. Hope I can get into some of those.

Posted by: Caveman Feb 15 2015, 07:24 PM

Very cool find!

Posted by: ColoradoProspector Feb 18 2015, 12:01 PM

That's a sweet season opener, congrats you guys!!

Posted by: fenixsmom Feb 18 2015, 01:00 PM

Great job boys!!!! Sorry I've been slacking on responding. Awesome specimen!!!

Posted by: RhodoRose Feb 19 2015, 11:18 PM

Nice find! Very beautiful, congrats!

Posted by: NewRockHounder Apr 18 2015, 12:43 PM

Question - how do you know it's topaz and not a clear quartz? What tests did you do, either in the field or at home, to know?

Colin

Posted by: Dave S. Apr 19 2015, 07:50 AM

It is not very hard to test for TOPAZ. If you have an isolated piece to test, you can do the home gravity test we have talked about in a few other topics. Quartz's specific gravity is 2.65 (times heavier than water). And Topaz is 3.4 - 3.6 (times heavier than water). If you find pieces that have crystal faces, then you can maybe tell from the different crystal shapes. If you have a different type of sample that can't be tested these ways, then let me know, or bring it to the next outing, and we will try to figure it out.