Clear Topaz is the colorless, gem-quality variety of the silicate mineral topaz, prized for its high brilliance and clarity. It commonly forms in elongated orthorhombic prismatic crystals and is frequently found in igneous pegmatites or cavities within volcanic rhyolite rocks.
Is this clear topaz?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch clear topaz with a known reference. Clear Topaz sits at Mohs 8 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Clear Topaz leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Clear Topaz typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: prismatic crystals with complex terminations.
Often confused with
Clear Topaz vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside clear topaz
Minerals reported to co-occur with clear topaz. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Al₂SiO₄(F,OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 8
- Density
- 3.49-3.57 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals with Complex Terminations
- Cleavage
- Perfect Basal
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Gemstone, Collector, Lapidary
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites and Rhyolite Cavities
- Typical price
- $5-50 per gram for rough, $10-50 per carat for cut stones
Where rockhounds find clear topaz
2 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Brazil
- Pakistan
- Mexico
- United States
- Nigeria
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites and rhyolite cavities country — that is the host setting where clear topaz typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, microcline, tourmaline in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic crystals with complex terminations habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Texas — start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify clear topaz?+
Where is clear topaz found?+
Can I find clear topaz in the United States?+
How much is clear topaz worth?+
What rocks look like clear topaz?+
What minerals are found with clear topaz?+
What kind of rock does clear topaz form in?+
What is clear topaz used for?+
Find clear topaz on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
