The-Vug.com
With fifteen articles devoted to the subject, coverage of the gem is unparalleled by another publication. Localities are featured in nine of the articles, ranging in size from the two page feature on St. Anne’s Mine in Zimbabwe, to the multi-page treatments done on Pakistan, Japan, Colorado, Russia, Mongolia among others. The locality articles feature stunning photographs, colorful maps, crystal models and locality photos, made all even more spectacular on the large format pages. Jeff Scovil’s photography fills the majority of the book, something everyone can be happy about.
In addition to the locality articles, the issue features articles about the subjects of mineralogy, inclusions in topaz, coloring, and an insight on cat’s eye and star inclusions in topaz by Dr. Jaroslav Hyrsl. The articles are each written by top authorities in their field, such as the overview of Japanese Topaz by Alfredo Petrov and John Rakovan. I noticed that even the locations I would have liked to see in the issue, a photo of a specimen would be somewhere in the issue. There is a faceted stone from Mason Texas on the back cover, a sharp topaz from Argentina inside the cover, and several crystals from other localities that did not make the cut for featured articles. I appreciate that level of inclusion, unlike some collaborations put together by various publishing houses, the editors behind this book have a true understanding on what a mineral collector and enthusiast is looking for in a fine publication.
-Justin Zzyzx
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