Show Prize Prise for Smithsonian What Is claimed to be the largest topaz stone In the world Is part of ot the Canfield collection recently given to the Smithsonian institution It weighs 93 OJ pounds AI though the he word vord topaz appears many times In English Eng Eng- English lish translations of ot the Bible says sas Pathfinder Magazine it Is now believed believed be be- that this tills gem stone was unknown unknown un un- known to the ancients The stone referred referred re- re fen cd to in the Scriptures as the topaz was probable the mineral Known as or peridot It Is alluded to as occurring on an island In the Red fled sea sen which confirms the modern theory When pure the topaz may be colorless colorless colorless color- color less and Is often orten mistaken mistake for dia dia- mond It also is about the same sarna specific gravity gra as ns diamond namely about 35 But nut it Is greatly Inferior to the diamond In hardness The brown topaz stones rom irom Siberia frequently frequently fre fre- fre become somewhat beached by exposure to the sunlight |