A hard, shiny gemstone that can be yellow, blue, pink, or colorless and is often used in jewelry.
The word likely comes from Latin 'topazus', from Greek 'topazos', the name of a gem said to be found on an island in the Red Sea. The exact original meaning and stone type have shifted over time.
For centuries, many yellow gems were all called 'topaz', even if they were actually different minerals. Gem names often show more about human fashion and trade routes than about strict science.
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