TOPAZ & SMOKY QUARTZ ON CLEAVELANDITE
ABOUT THE SPECIMEN
Highly representative and highly sculptural combination specimen of ‘champagne’ topaz mixed with grey smoky quartz and a contrasting base of white albite, a display that is a true staple of Pakistani mineralogy. The rich color of the topaz crystals - all in perfect condition - is perfectly accented by their magnificent clarity and modified pinacoidal terminations. While extracting this specimen must have been difficult enough, it must've been almost just as hard an endeavor to trim and prepare this piece to make it as phenomenally gorgeous as it is. There are a few different angles at which it can be displayed, all with their own unique appeal. Dassu has been producing remarkable quality topaz for many a year now, though this one is from recent finds of the last few years. Large cabinet examples of this quality are uncommon on the market, and represent a sought after opportunity. Comes with a custom, engraved acrylic base.
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The Dassu pegmatites intrude Early Proterozoic Dassu orthogneiss of the Karakoram Metamorphic Complex, with outcrops between 2,500-3,500 meters along both banks of the Braldu River. These Alpine-age pegmatite dikes crystallized from beryllium and fluorine-rich magmatic hydrothermal fluids in cavities within the intermediate zone, but are notably poor in lithium - explaining why topaz occurs abundantly while elbaite and lepidolite are absent. Specimens display prismatic crystals with complex basal terminations, typically in "sherry" or champagne colors ranging from water-clear colorless to smoky amber hues, reaching up to 3 cm on edge in exceptional examples. The crystals show characteristic glassy luster on prism and pyramid faces, often perched on white albite feldspar with silvery muscovite. What distinguishes Dassu topaz is the combination of gem transparency, distinctive warm coloration, and complex termination faces. Mining operations have been documented since a 1918 Geological Survey of India report, with approximately 200 groups of miners working year-round in tunnels reaching 150-180 meters depth. The topaz crystals can fade to colorless with light exposure, requiring dark storage to preserve color.