Feature Gems & Gemology, Summer 1993, Vol. 29, No. 2

Reactor-Irradiated Green Topaz


Examination of samples of faceted "Ocean green" topaz reveals that this material has been irradiated in a nuclear reactor. An earlier reactor-irradiation experiment suggests that temperature conditions during the irradiation of this material may be higher than those used to produce typical "London-blue" topaz. Like such reactor-irradiated blue topaz, this material may be radioactive. In addition, the green color is not stable to direct sunlight.