Topaz with Aquamarine – Adun-Cholon Range, Nerchinsk, Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia

An impressive and historically interesting topaz with aquamarine specimen from the Adun-Cholon Range near Nerchinsk, Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia. The Adun-Cholon Mountains of Transbaikalia are a classic historic Russian mineral locality particularly noted for pegmatite minerals, including topaz and beryl. 

The specimen features numerous well-developed, translucent pale golden to champagne-colored, prismatic topaz crystals distributed across pegmatitic matrix. The dark, striated crystals actually have aquamarine cores! At first I missed this until the specimen was under strong illumination. I am not entirely sure what the black to dark green coating is though. The entire specimen has a natural iron-staining which certainly does not help the aesthetics. However I find any mineral specimen from a historic Russian locality has significant charm and intrigue.

Collector provenance on this piece has an interesting recent history. The specimen comes from with a label from William L. Roberts collection which was later obtained and marketed by the Dakota Matrix dealership. It was purchased by an unknown Calgary, Alberta collection which somehow ended up in Value Village in Calgary (a thrift store). This "Value Village collection" was purchased by the sharp eye of an enterprising young man in Calgary who later sold it to me at Rocky Mountain Minerals & Fossils. It is a shame we do not know who this mysterious Calgary collector was in the missing link or who owned it prior to William Roberts. This is likely a very old specimen; if it could only talk about its previous owners!

Minerals: Topaz, Aquamarine
Locality: Adun-Cholon Range, Nerchinsk, Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia
Crystal System: Orthorhombic (Topaz); Hexagonal (Aquamarine/Beryl)
Mineral Class: Silicate
Provenance: Ex Willard L. Roberts Collection #53530; Dakota Matrix; Unknown Calgary collector; Ex Daniel Nieviadomy 
Dimensions: 10 × 7  cm