Sanarka River, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia

© Tony H Gill

© Tony H Gill

Transparent purple amethyst quartz crystal cluster with minor matrix. It appears this specimen originated from a placer deposit, and has damage to the crystal terminations as a result. Good locality specimen though. Overall size of mineral specimen: 35x32x25 mm. Size of individual crystals: 12-20 mm.

© 2001 John H. Betts

1.5 x 0.4 x 0.3 cm. Pink topaz is extremely rare from any Russia locale. This superb gem thumbnail has vivid pink color, high glassy lustre and a striking steep termination. It comes from a most obscure Urals locality.

© Rob Lavinsky & MineralAuctions.com

Incredible pink topaz

Red topaz from a few small pockets found erratically along the Sanarka River Valley in Russia is one of the absolute rarest and most seldom seen varieties of topaz. Many people call it an 'imperial topaz" colloquially and in the gem market, as it has the elongated shape and crystal habit, gemminess, and orange to red colors characteristic of ...

© Rob Lavinsky & iRocks.com