topas

Topas is a term with multiple uses across gemology, geography, and naming. In gemology, it most often refers to topaz; in German, the gemstone is spelled Topas.

Topaz is a silicate mineral with the chemical formula Al2SiO4(F,OH)2. It occurs in a range of colors from colorless to yellow, brown, pink, blue, and green; blue topaz is commonly produced by irradiation and heat treatment. It forms in igneous rocks such as granitic pegmatites and in hydrothermal veins, and it has a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale, making it durable for jewelry. The gemstone is associated with November in several cultural traditions.

Topas is also used as a toponym in various countries, where places named Topas may be rural settlements, hills, or geographic features. The origin of these names varies and can reflect local language roots or historical associations with the gemstone.

Beyond geography, the word Topas appears in personal names, business branding, and organizational titles in different regions, separate from the mineral context. This article provides a brief overview of the main uses and is not an exhaustive catalog of all instances of the name Topas. For a specific Topas, regional geographic indexes or language-specific gemology resources can offer more detail.