Topaz

Description

The municipality of Virgem da Lapa in the Vale do Jequitinhonha is one of Brazil’s classic topaz localities, known for colourless to pale-blue orthorhombic crystals of gemstone quality. The pegmatites of this region yield well-formed topaz prisms with the characteristic diamond-like vitreous lustre and perfect basal cleavage of the species.

Topaz from Virgem da Lapa is typically water-clear, making it prized both as a collector mineral and as gem rough. The Jequitinhonha Valley has been mined for coloured stones since the colonial era and remains one of South America’s most productive gem regions.