Colorado Prospector - Gem and mineral prospecting and mining forums

Full Version: Topaz Crystal-Large Specimen

Colorado Prospector - Gem and mineral prospecting and mining forums > Colorado Prospector site and club info forums > CP's Past Events

Sep 25 2007, 11:29 AM

Thought we would share a pic of this beauty.
We have been doing some research on these large specimens from Brazil, some of which are over 100 lbs.

This one is only a 15 lb'er but still a very nice specimen on the larger side.

Figure roughly a bit over 34,000 carats ..... WOW!

Enjoy
CP

jim

Sep 25 2007, 02:08 PM

Wow,
Boy ya could facet a few outta that.

Oct 6 2007, 02:46 PM

Ok, we have verified more information on the original owner of this piece.
John Alexander of Colorado Springs was given this Topaz upon graduation from Colorado College as a graduation present by his uncle Don.

The Alexander family was the same that started the historical Alexander Eaglerock airplanes.
The Alexander family film business was behind the whole reason as to why they began airplane production here in Colorado.....and at one time were the largest manufacturer of planes for a short period.

The family also had several prospectors/mineral collectors in their midst....John being on of them.
John also knew the rather famous John Sinkankas who was also a collector and gem faceter.
John donated to the Smithsonian a large pear shaped faceted topaz that weighed 368.5 cts.
John also donated at least one piece to the Denver museum......which was a blue topaz faceted gem weighing 103.2 cts.
Both faceted gems I believe were cut by Mr. Sinkankas.

Here is a short article on the Alexander film and airplane companies.
Great read...especially for the aviation historical nuts!!
Alexander Film/Airplane Company-Pikes Peak Library District Website

This piece is now for sale. Please inquire for price.
Serious inquiries only please.

CP

Oct 14 2007, 11:58 AM

Another bit of Colorado history and the Alexander family business.....
They also mined vermiculite here in Colorado and sold the product to the military for fire proofing material.

QUOTE

They purchased a vermiculite mine near Rosita, Colorado, and built a processing plant near Florence, Colorado. Known as PerAleX, the building material sold through the Alexite division of the company and was used by the Army and Navy as a low cost fireproofing material in shipyards and munitions plants. Alexite also sold a fertilizer called Garden Gro. In 1950.

Here's another link with some more info.
http://rmoa.unm.edu/docviewer.php?docId=cocppmss0056.xml

And here's another quote from that page about Don M. Alexander (One of the original founders)

QUOTE

Don M. Alexander, a graduate electrical engineer, was also an aviation advocate and in 1971, one year before his death in 1972, was inducted into the Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame. He never married. He was also active in the Boy Scouts of America and in 1945 provided leadership and capitol for the establishment of Camp Alexander, a Boy Scout camp located near Lake George, Colorado.

This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.