The composition of zoned, zoned-sectorial or relatively homogeneous small topaz crystals from granite pegmatites of Ukraine (Volyn) and Russia (Ilmeny State Reserve in South Urals, Orlovskoe and Sherlovaya Gora deposits in Transbaikalia, and Zabytoe deposit in Primorye) is characterized using scanning electron microscope with energy-dispersive spectrometer and partly by laser mass spectroscopy. Photoexpositions of neutron activation radiography with data on chemical composition and possible isotopes, which form the pattern, are presented for some topaz crystals. According to the composition, the studied topaz was subdivided on three types according: 1) mostly fluoride (58%); 2) fluoride-hydroxyl (21%); 3) mostly hydroxyl (21%). The advantage of the neutron activation radiography for detecting patterns of zoned and zoned-sectorial heterogeneity of the composition of topaz crystals is shown.

Keywords: topaz, composition, radiography, Volyn (Ukraine), Ural, Transbaikalia, Primorye (Russia).

Acknowledgements. We are grateful to V.I. Silaev and A.F. Khazov for rational comments.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Author contribution. V.I. Popova, V.A. Popov – conceptualization, investigation; M.A. Rassomakhin – analytical/experimental works; V.I. Popova, V.A. Popov – writing – original draft, visualization, writing – review & editing. All the authors approved the final version of the manuscript prior to publication.

For citation: Popova V.I., Popov V.A., Rassomakhin M.A. About the composition and neutron activation radiography of the topaz crystals from the author’s collection. Mineralogy, 10(3), 5–19. DOI: 10.35597/2313-545X-2024-10-3-1

Received 14.04.2024, revised 20.05.2024, accepted 06.06.2024

V.I. Popova, South Ural Federal Research Center of Mineralogy and Geoecology UB RAS, Miass,  Russia; popov@mineralogy.ru

V.A. Popov, South Ural Federal Research Center of Mineralogy and Geoecology UB RAS, Miass,  Russia;

M.A. Rassomakhin, South Ural Federal Research Center of Mineralogy and Geoecology UB RAS, Miass,  Russia

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