MINING ROCKSTAR OF THE WEEK – TOPAZ!!

Topaz is a rare silicate mineral with a chemical composition of Al2SiO4(F,OH)2. It is best known for three things: 1) being one of the world's favourite coloured gemstones; 2) being "mineral number 8" in the Mohs Scale of Hardness; and, 3) being a birthstone for the month of November. Topaz obtains much of its popularity from its beautiful colours and its status as a birthstone. Natural topaz colours include rare and valuable yellow, orange, pink, red, purple, and blue. The most affordable and frequently purchased is blue topaz that has received its colour from treatment. In 1812, Friedrich Mohs developed a set of 10 standard minerals that could be used to assign a relative hardness to minerals and other materials. Today, over 200 years later, his hardness scale is used by students and geologists throughout the world to identify mineral specimens - "Geology.com".