Topaz

Blue Topaz, assorted types

Topaz is the birthstone for the month of November.  While most commonly found in shades of blue, Clear "white" Topaz is often used as to make many different varieties of treated Topaz gemstones.  This is done by placing the white topaz in a kiln with other elements that when heated will coat the outer surface of the gemstone and alter it's appearance dramatically.  Topaz can also naturally occur in different colors other than blue, but such colors, such as pink, are usually the treated variety as they can be quite rare to find in nature.

Blue Topaz is often treated with heat or irradiated to enhance it's blue coloring.  Deposits can be found in Brazil, United States, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Australia, Russia, Tasmania, Mexico, Pakistan, Japan, Brazil and Africa. 

Here are a few different types of Topaz.

Different Shades of Blue Topaz (Two Sky Blues and one London Blue Topaz)

White Topaz 

Mystic Topaz (Treated)

Pink and Ruby Red Topaz (Treated)

STATS:
Color:   Colorless, light to dark blue, yellow, orange, red-brown, pink-red, red, light green, violet
Mohs' Hardness Scale:  8
Density:  3.49 to 3.57
Transparency:  Transparent, translucent