Corundum vs Topaz
| Property | Corundum | Topaz |
|---|---|---|
| 化学式 | Al2O3 | Al2SiO4(F,OH)2 |
| 晶系 | Trigonal | Orthorhombic |
| 矿物分类 | 04 Oxides and Hydroxides | 09 Silicates |
| 莫氏硬度 | 9.0 | 8.0 |
| 颜色 | Red (ruby), blue (sapphire), various colors | Colorless, yellow, blue, pink, orange |
| 光泽 | Adamantine | Vitreous |
| 条痕色 | Colorless | Colorless |
| 透明度 | Transparent | Transparent |
| 解理 | None | Perfect {001} |
| 断口 | Conchoidal to uneven | Conchoidal to uneven |
Key Differences
- ◆ Corundum (hardness 9) is harder than topaz (hardness 8); corundum can scratch topaz.
- ◆ Topaz Al2SiO4(F,OH)2 is an orthorhombic silicate; corundum Al2O3 is a trigonal oxide.
- ◆ Topaz has perfect basal cleavage that can cause faceted gems to split; corundum has no cleavage.
- ◆ Corundum gem varieties (ruby, sapphire) are generally more valuable than most topaz.
- ◆ Topaz can be confused with sapphire when blue, but its cleavage and lower specific gravity distinguish it.