ACTIVITY :

ROCK CYCLE

NAME OF ROCK : TOPAZ

TYPE OF ROCK : IGNEOUS ROCKS

Picture:

Description:
Topaz is a silicate mineral of aluminum and fluorine it is valued as a gemstone . it is
formed by fluorine – bearing vapours given off during the last stages of crystallization of igneous rocks
. It is ranked 8 in mohs scale when it comes to hardness.

1. What are some of the physical properties of this rock ( color, texture, hardness)?

Topazes come in a variety of colors, including colorless, orange, red, brown, pink, blue, green,
yellow and red, with yellow being the birthstone for November and red and pink topazes being the
most precious and valuable.
Topaz is an igneous rock with a colorless streak, excellent cleavage, vitreous luster, and a sub-
chonchodical fracture, according to mineralogists.
Topaz is the third hardest mineral being 8th on the Mohs scale, behind diamond and corundum.

2. How can you tell what kind of rock this is ?

Because topaz has forms along its fractures and cavities and topaz only forms when there is enough
fluorine in the cooling of magma and thus enables the formation of topaz and being close to the likes
of granite and rhyolites thus making topaz an igneous rock.

3. If you were to build or make something using many of these rocks, what would you build or
make ? what properties make this rock suitable for what would you build ?

Jewelry because topaz is commonly used in that industry. I would make a ring for my grandma since
she loves rings and topaz has a wide selection of colors being yellow her favorite and can be easily
found in any jewelry store.