Topaz Mason County, Texas Chemical Formula: Al2(SiO4)(F,OH)2 Crystal System: Orthorhombic (short to long prismatic crystals) Specimen Dimensions: 4 cm x 4 cm x 4 cm Specimen Weight: 206 grams Specimen ID: B-1336 Topaz is the state gem of Texas. This specimen circled the earth on one of NASA's space shuttles. From the Colonel E.M. Barron Mineral Collection
Vesuvianite, a sorosilicate found in skarns (contact metamorphism of limestones) Location: specific unknown County: Llano County, Texas Chemical Formula: (Ca,Na)19(Al,Mg,Fe3+)13(B,Al,Fe3+)5(Si2O7)4(SiO4)10(OH,F,O)10 Crystal System: Tetragonal Specimen size: 4 x 2.75 x 1.5 inches Large Crystal highlighted: 1 inch long x .75 x .75 inches Specimen weight: 630 grams Collection Reference: TMM 1272. In the Jackson School Collection at the University of Texas at Austin.