American Golden Topaz

American Golden Topaz: One of the Largest Faceted Gems in the World

A faceted topaz weighing 22,892.50 carats, making it the largest cut yellow topaz in the world, as well as one of the largest faceted gems in the world.

American Golden Topaz is a 172-faceted topaz weighing 22,892.5 carats (4.57850 kg; 10.0939 lb), making it the largest cut yellow topaz in the world, and one of the largest faceted gems of any type in the world.

It was originally purchased by Dr. Paul Borgatta, a dentist from New York City, for $20,000. Dr. Borgatta had the stone cut and polished by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The American Golden Topaz was sold to the Smithsonian Institution in 1975 for $40,000. It is currently on display in the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.

The American Golden Topaz is a popular tourist attraction at the Smithsonian Institution. It is often featured in exhibits on gemstones and geology. The stone has also been featured in several books and magazines. In 2010, the American Golden Topaz was featured in a segment on the television show "The Travel Channel."

American Golden Topaz, 22,892.5 carats

The American Golden Topaz is a beautiful and unique gemstone. It is a testament to the skill and dedication of Dr. Borgatta that he was able to cut and polish such a large and impressive stone. The topaz is a valuable addition to the Smithsonian's collection, and it continues to delight and amaze visitors from all over the world. The Museum also holds two of the world’s largest uncut Topazes, the 32 kg Lindsay Topaz and the 50 kg Freeman Topaz

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Topaz

Topaz is a silicate mineral of aluminium and fluorine with the chemical formula Al₂SiO₄(F, OH)_2. It is a hard mineral, with a Mohs hardness of 8, and is the second hardest naturally occurring mineral after diamond. Topaz is also a very dense mineral, with a specific gravity of 3.5 to 3.6.

Topaz is a silicate mineral that is found in a variety of colors, including yellow, blue, pink, orange, and brown. The color of topaz is determined by the presence of impurities in the mineral. For example, blue topaz contains iron impurities, while pink topaz contains manganese impurities.

Topaz is commonly found in igneous rocks, such as granite and rhyolite. It is also found in hydrothermal veins, which are formed when hot water and dissolved minerals flow through cracks in rocks. Topaz can also be found in metamorphic rocks, which are formed when existing rocks are subjected to heat and pressure.

See also: Topaz: Types and Colors
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