Feature Gems & Gemology, Summer 1987, Vol. 23, No. 2

The Rutilated Topaz Misnomer


Recently a number of faceted Brazilian topazes containing brownish yellow acicular inclusions of what has been described by some gem dealers as the mineral rutile have appeared on the market. An investigation of this material shows that these inclusions are not rutile but rather are open channels colored by limonite.