I'm really excited to share this new mineral deposit with you all. A friend of mine and his significant other have private claims in the Thomas Range of Utah, notorious for Golden Topaz and Red Beryl deposits.
Several years ago, he stumbled across something a little different; well, much different. These Topaz crystals are colored by inclusions of other minerals. Here is a small excerpt from their page on the inclusions:
"The black topaz is unique in mineralogy and the color is solely attributed to inclusions of rare wolframoixiolite and magnetite. Wolframoixiolite is a rare mineral and only trace inclusions has ever been found in topaz, from just a handful of localities worldwide. These wolframoixiolite inclusions are unique and represent the tungsten end member, never before documented in this species. What makes the black topaz even more special is they also contain an assemblage of fluorine minerals: unusual fluorite sphericals, creedite, and fluorannite. The color of these specimens is phenomenal, grading form opaque to transparent charcoal gray. Additionally, some crystals show bicolor and even tricolor gradation, with some classic Thomas Range sherry terminations." -SK Star Claim
This new material has undergone vigorous testing and the research is in the process of being reviewed and revised for a new journal publication. I'll add more to this thread as time permits!
Several years ago, he stumbled across something a little different; well, much different. These Topaz crystals are colored by inclusions of other minerals. Here is a small excerpt from their page on the inclusions:
"The black topaz is unique in mineralogy and the color is solely attributed to inclusions of rare wolframoixiolite and magnetite. Wolframoixiolite is a rare mineral and only trace inclusions has ever been found in topaz, from just a handful of localities worldwide. These wolframoixiolite inclusions are unique and represent the tungsten end member, never before documented in this species. What makes the black topaz even more special is they also contain an assemblage of fluorine minerals: unusual fluorite sphericals, creedite, and fluorannite. The color of these specimens is phenomenal, grading form opaque to transparent charcoal gray. Additionally, some crystals show bicolor and even tricolor gradation, with some classic Thomas Range sherry terminations." -SK Star Claim
This new material has undergone vigorous testing and the research is in the process of being reviewed and revised for a new journal publication. I'll add more to this thread as time permits!
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and an awesome find for your friends. I hope thier find gets accreditation as those appear to be some truely unique minerals there.
