The likely geological history of the formation of this superb sample can be easily read by inspection: A large crystal of red topaz measuring at least 13 cm formed first, then got cleaved into 4 pieces by the tectonic deformations of the medium in which it was found (hence the nickname "the rocket" as they look similar to the stages of a spatial step rocket). These were subsequently displaced from their initial position by the natural movements of the medium and then “frozen” in calcite (more precisely in a light-colored tectonic breccia, which formed above a grey carbonatite). The 4 pieces do not show the same width: the section of a topaz crystal being rectangular, these pieces probably rotated before getting frozen. Part of the breccia was removed to expose the pieces of topaz that show a superb red color that is very rare for this mineral (coloration due to chromium which also imparts a strong UV fluorescence, and to the absence of natural radioactivity which would have transformed it into a sherry color as is the case for the Brazilian imperial topazes).

Katlang, Mardan District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

2021

For the type locality, Topasos (Zabargad), the Red Sea, Egypt.

7.5x12x13

8

3.6