TOPAZ: OCCURRENCE IN ASIA 339 



precious stones, some of which have been already mentioned. They include quartz 

 (amethyst), conmdum (ruby), chrysoberyl (alexandrite and cymophane), spinel, chalcedony 

 (carnelian, agate, &c.), staurolite, kyanite, euclase, tourmaline, garnet, beryl, &c. In the 

 case of rose-topaz its place of origin is known ; it occurs with green chromiferous tourmaline 

 and green chromiferous mica (fuchsite) in quartz veins or nests in carboniferous limestone, 

 which in this district forms a deposit extending over a wide area. 



The topaz found in the Adun-Chalon Mountains, in the Nerchinsk district of 

 Transbaikalia, is much fissured and far from being perfectly transparent. It forms with 

 quartz the so-called topaz-rock, veins of which penetrate the granite. It has been already 

 mentioned, in the description of beryl, that cavities in this topaz-rock are lined with crystals 

 of beryl, smoky-quartz, and topaz, and that owing to the weathering of the rock these 

 minerals lie loosely scattered in the surface soil. 



In the mountain range, Kuchuserken, topaz was first met with at the beginning of the 

 fifties of the nineteenth century. Although this range may be considered as a continuation 

 of the Adun-Chalon Mountains, yet the topaz found here is more like that which occurs 

 with beryl in granite near the Urulga river, in the Borshchovochnoi range. 



The topaz of the last-named locality is distinguished by its exceptional beauty of colour 

 and transparency and by the size of its crystals. In respect to the large size of the crystals 

 it exceeds all other Russian topaz. Thus a perfectly .transparent, dark honey-yellow 

 crystal found here weighed 3 pounds, another fine transparent crystal of a pleasing 

 dark wine-yellow colour weighed over 25 pounds, while a third measured 19 by 21 

 centimetres, and weighed 31 pounds ; this, however, which has been already mentioned, 

 was only translucent and of a dirty yellow colour. Several very fine crystals from this 

 district are preserved in the British Museum collection of minerals. In the majority of 

 crystals the colour is something between the brown of smoky-quartz and the yellow of 

 Brazilian topaz; unfortunately this colour is speedily bleached on exposure to light. 

 Sometimes it is dark honey-yellow ; stones showing light tints of this and other shades of 

 yellow are also seen, as well as pale-blue, bluish-white, and perfectly colourless examples. 

 The crystals occur singly or in groups, the individuals of a group having grown together in 

 parallel position. 



The Daurien district in the southern part of Transbaikalia is another locality for 

 topaz ; fine water-clear and well-developed crystals are found in the Shilka river, the upper 

 course (or main supply stream) of the Amur. 



Fine topazes also occur elsewhere in Asia. Those found in the neighbourhood of 

 Mukla, or Mugla, in Asia Minor, resemble the yellow Brazilian topaz so closely both in 

 form and colour that they can scarcely be distinguished from them. No details are known 

 as to the locality or mode of occurrence. The stones vary in shade from a dark honey- 

 yellow to pale wine-yellow; sometimes they are rose-red, rarely blue. Their form is the 

 same as that of the Brazilian crystals, Fig. 66n, and Plate XII., Figs. 2 and 4. 



The occurrence of topaz in India is not well authenticated. In those instances in 

 which it is supposed to have been found, it is probable that quartz or some other mineral 

 has been mistaken for it. The occurrence of topaz in Ceylon is, on the other hand, well 

 established. It occurs in abundance as colourless and pale or dark yellow pebbles in the 

 gem-gravels, together with sapphire and other precious stones, which are all collected and 

 sent to market together'. The fine saffron-yellow variety of topaz, mentioned above, occurs 

 as a great rarity in Ceylon ; it is distinguished as " Indian topaz." A large pebble, weighing 

 12 pounds 13 ounces, of perfectly colourless and transparent topaz, probably from Ccjlon, 

 is to be seen in the British Museum collection of minerals. 



