Undergraduate honors paper--Mount Holyoke College, 2007. Dept. of Earth and Environment. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 44-50).

The production of ??-eucryptite [LiAlSiO4] and ??-spodumene [LiAlSi2O6] from topaz [Al2SiO4(F0.64OH0.36)2, containing ~3 wt% quartz impurity] from Torrington, NSW may be of commercial importance since both lithium aluminosilicates have negative or low coefficients of thermal expansion and are used commercially as raw materials in the glass, ceramics, and metallurgical industries. A review of the literature has revealed that the production of ??-eucryptite and ??-spodumene from topaz has not been reported before. The aim of the present work was to determine the kinetics and reaction mechanisms of formation of ??-eucryptite from topaz + lithium carbonate mixtures and ??-spodumene from topaz + lithium carbonate + silica mixtures. To this end, the related reactions and subsolidus phase equilibria of the Li2O-Al2O3-SiO2 ternary system were determined. The subsolidus phase equilibria for the Li2O-Al2O3-SiO2 ternary system were investigated by literature assessment, experimentation, and thermodynamic calculations. The experimentation confirmed the previously published tentative compatibility relations in the Al2O3 and the SiO2 corners. Thermodynamic calculations were used to define the phase relations in the Li2O corner. Thermodynamic calculations also were used to define the phase equilibria for two binary subsystems, Li2SiO3-LiAlO2 and Li4SiO4-LiAlO2. The decomposition of topaz and formation of ??-eucryptite from topaz + lithium carbonate mixtures and ??-spodumene from topaz + lithium carbonate + silica mixtures were investigated experimentally using differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman microspectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Confirmatory thermodynamic calculations also were done. One significant finding of the present work was the formation of nanofibres from topaz + lithium carbonate mixtures at 1150???C. These fibres were formed by gas-phase reaction of SiF4 and AlOF produced from the reaction between topaz, lithium carbonate and by reaction of SiO2 and Li(OH), which was produced by Li2O volatilisation. These fibres, which were difficult to analyse, most likely consisted of metastable ???-spodumene solid solution or mullite in the incipient stage of formation. Formation of single-phase ???-spodumene from topaz + lithium carbonate + silica mixtures was observed after heating above 950???C for 24 h. Reaction paths for the formation of ??-spodumene over the temperature range 450???-1550???C were proposed. The formation of single-phase ??-spodumene was not simple and straightforward but a complex process involving several precursor phases. Specifically, there were two reaction mechanisms involving the formation of single-phase ???-spodumene by gas-solid reaction and gas-liquid-solid reaction. The reaction kinetics and thermodynamics of the formation of single-phase ??-spodumene at 750???-950???C were assessed. Essential work supplementary to that associated with the Li2O-Al2O3-SiO2 system consisted of determination of the decomposition mechanism of topaz, which was determined to take place in four stages. Reaction paths for the decomposition of topaz also were proposed. Another significant finding of the present work was the formation of transient single-crystal mullite from topaz + lithium carbonate + silica mixtures at ~600???C, which may be contrasted with the normal temperature range of 1000???-1400???C for formation from clay-based raw materials. This phenomenon occurred via a gas-solid growth mechanism. The present observation suggests a potential low-temperature route for the production of high-purity mullite fibres without glass contamination.

The production of ??-eucryptite [LiAlSiO4] and ??-spodumene [LiAlSi2O6] from topaz [Al2SiO4(F0.64OH0.36)2, containing ~3 wt% quartz impurity] from Torrington, NSW may be of commercial importance since both lithium aluminosilicates have negative or low coefficients of thermal expansion and are used commercially as raw materials in the glass, ceramics, and metallurgical industries. A review of the literature has revealed that the production of ??-eucryptite and ??-spodumene from topaz has not been reported before. The aim of the present work was to determine the kinetics and reaction mechanisms of formation of ??-eucryptite from topaz + lithium carbonate mixtures and ??-spodumene from topaz + lithium carbonate + silica mixtures. To this end, the related reactions and subsolidus phase equilibria of the Li2O-Al2O3-SiO2 ternary system were determined. The subsolidus phase equilibria for the Li2O-Al2O3-SiO2 ternary system were investigated by literature assessment, experimentation, and thermodynamic calculations. The experimentation confirmed the previously published tentative compatibility relations in the Al2O3 and the SiO2 corners. Thermodynamic calculations were used to define the phase relations in the Li2O corner. Thermodynamic calculations also were used to define the phase equilibria for two binary subsystems, Li2SiO3-LiAlO2 and Li4SiO4-LiAlO2. The decomposition of topaz and formation of ??-eucryptite from topaz + lithium carbonate mixtures and ??-spodumene from topaz + lithium carbonate + silica mixtures were investigated experimentally using differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman microspectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Confirmatory thermodynamic calculations also were done. One significant finding of the present work was the formation of nanofibres from topaz + lithium carbonate mixtures at 1150???C. These fibres were formed by gas-phase reaction of SiF4 and AlOF produced from the reaction between topaz, lithium carbonate and by reaction of SiO2 and Li(OH), which was produced by Li2O volatilisation. These fibres, which were difficult to analyse, most likely consisted of metastable ???-spodumene solid solution or mullite in the incipient stage of formation. Formation of single-phase ???-spodumene from topaz + lithium carbonate + silica mixtures was observed after heating above 950???C for 24 h. Reaction paths for the formation of ??-spodumene over the temperature range 450???-1550???C were proposed. The formation of single-phase ??-spodumene was not simple and straightforward but a complex process involving several precursor phases. Specifically, there were two reaction mechanisms involving the formation of single-phase ???-spodumene by gas-solid reaction and gas-liquid-solid reaction. The reaction kinetics and thermodynamics of the formation of single-phase ??-spodumene at 750???-950???C were assessed. Essential work supplementary to that associated with the Li2O-Al2O3-SiO2 system consisted of determination of the decomposition mechanism of topaz, which was determined to take place in four stages. Reaction paths for the decomposition of topaz also were proposed. Another significant finding of the present work was the formation of transient single-crystal mullite from topaz + lithium carbonate + silica mixtures at ~600???C, which may be contrasted with the normal temperature range of 1000???-1400???C for formation from clay-based raw materials. This phenomenon occurred via a gas-solid growth mechanism. The present observation suggests a potential low-temperature route for the production of high-purity mullite fibres without glass contamination.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:24:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:05:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 01250.pdf: 2110565 bytes, checksum: e270c1871a3de83f54d7dbbf6713099f (MD5) / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IEA/D / Instituto de Fisica, Universidade de Sao Paulo - IF/USP

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:24:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:05:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 01250.pdf: 2110565 bytes, checksum: e270c1871a3de83f54d7dbbf6713099f (MD5) / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IEA/D / Instituto de Fisica, Universidade de Sao Paulo - IF/USP

The Miocene rhyolites of the Spor Mountain Formation hosts the world's largest beryllium deposit which produced 85% of the world's beryllium in 2010. The fresh lava is extremely enriched in Be (up to 75 ppm in matrix glass). We have examined the rhyolite to understand the Be enrichment. The Spor Mountain rhyolite contains ~40% quartz, ~40% sanidine, ~10% biotite, and ~10% plagioclase, along with accessory fluorite, columbite, euxenite, fergusonite, monazite, thorite, and zircon. Two types of rhyolite erupted within the Spor Mountain Formation, a less evolved magma (1150 ppm Rb, 42 ppm Be, 0.68 wt% F in matrix glass) and an evolved magma (1710 ppm Rb, 75 ppm Be, 1.56 wt% F in matrix glass). Eruption temperatures estimated using zircon saturation, feldspar-liquid, two feldspar, and Ti-in-quartz geothermometers converge on 718 °C for the less evolved magma and 682 °C for the evolved magma. Using the Ti-in-Qz equation of Huang and Audetat (2012), the pressure of the Spor Mountain rhyolite system is estimated to be around 2 kbar at 700°C. Water content of the rhyolite melt was less than <5 wt%, based on the presence of all four major mineral phases at 700°C and the magma was water undersaturated (Webster et al., 1987). Viscosity of the rhyolite was about 6.2 log Pa·s for the less evolved rhyolite and 5.8 log Pa·s for the evolved rhyolite. Magma viscosities calculated using the Einstein-Roscoe question suggest the evolved magma has a slightly higher viscosity than the less evolved magma (7.0 log Pa·s in the evolved magma vs 6.7 log Pa·s in the less evolved magma) because of higher phenocryst content. Fluorine lowered the melt viscosity, though not by a significant amount (less than 0.5 log units at 1.7 wt% F). Partition coefficients for 32 elements have been calculated for biotite, for 21 elements for sanidine and plagioclase, and for 6 elements for quartz, using data acquired by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Partition coefficients for feldspars in the Spor Mountain rhyolite are generally higher than other silicic magmas, and lower for biotite. Beryllium is one of the most incompatible trace elements in the Spor Mountain rhyolite, with a bulk partition coefficient <0.1. Volatile content of the melt (specifically F), melt composition, and the low temperature of crystallization act as the major controls of trace element partitioning. Trace element models using these partition coefficients suggests that crystal fractionation is the dominant magmatic enrichment process within the rhyolite, requiring ~45% crystallization (f = 55%) of the observed phenocrysts to get compositions from the less evolved to evolved rhyolite. Accumulation of batches of melt formed by different degrees of partial melting cannot explain the great depletion of compatible elements.

Submitted by PEDRO LUIZ LUPPI FOSTER null (luppifoster@gmail.com) on 2016-11-16T19:23:57Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_Mestrado_Pedro_Foster.pdf: 23543008 bytes, checksum: 970cd8b58cfa88e2188ef3b76510d096 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Felipe Augusto Arakaki (arakaki@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-11-23T12:41:25Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 foster_pll_me_rcla.pdf: 23543008 bytes, checksum: 970cd8b58cfa88e2188ef3b76510d096 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-11-23T12:41:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 foster_pll_me_rcla.pdf: 23543008 bytes, checksum: 970cd8b58cfa88e2188ef3b76510d096 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-09-23 / Topázio granitos são rochas ácidas ultrafracionadas que ocorrem sob a forma de stocks, cúpolas ou diques em suítes graníticas pós-orogênicas ou anarogênicas, e são caracterizadas por seu enriquecimento extremo em flúor, associação com elementos litófilos e relação direta com muitos depósitos primários de metais raros (ex. Sn, W, Ta e Nb) encontrados pelo mundo. A mina Bom Futuro localiza-se no município de Ariquemes, região centro-norte de Rondônia, e é umas das maiores produtoras de estanho do país e congrega dois morros contíguos denominados Bom Futuro e Palanqueta, este último sendo o representante em superfície do Maciço Palanqueta. No Maciço Palanqueta são reconhecidas 5 fácies graníticas, sendo 4 delas topázio granitos: biotita-álcali-feldspato-granito equigranular, topázio-zinnwaldita-álcali-feldspato-granito equigranular, topázio-zinnwaldita-álcali-feldspato-granito porfirítico, topázio-zinnwaldita-álcali-feldspato-granito pórfiro e topázio-zinnwaldita-álcali-feldspato-granito miarolítico, além de diques de aplito, veios de pegmatito e veios e pipes de greisen mineralizados em cassiterita. Os veios pegmatíticos encontram-se cortando os diques de aplito e estes as demais fácies graníticas. As relações de contato entre as fácies graníticas é brusca, mas só é identificada relação de idade entre as fácies topázio-zinnwaldita-álcali-feldspato-granito porfirítico e topázio-zinnwaldita-álcali-feldspato-granito pórfiro. As características de campo, petrográficas e geoquímicas do Maciço Palanqueta permitem classifica-lo como um maciço granítico multifásico, intraplaca, tipo A e integrante peraluminoso da Suíte Granitos Últimos de Rondônia. Apesar de cronologicamente correlatos a seguinte ordem para a colocação das fácies graníticas é proposta: biotita-álcali-feldspato-granito equigranular  topázio-zinnwaldita-álcali-feldspato-granito equigranular  topázio-zinnwaldita-álcali-feldspato-granito porfirítico  topázio-zinnwaldita-álcali-feldspato-granito miarolítico  topázio-zinnwaldita-álcali-feldspato-granito pórfiro. O Maciço Palanqueta ainda não possui seus limites físicos definidos, bem como sua variação faciológica em seção, o que implica na possibilidade de potencial metalogenético em profundidade, em acordo com outros exemplos de topázio granitos encontrados na literatura. / Topaz granites are acidic ultrafracionated rocks that occur in the form of stocks, domes or dykes in granitic post-orogenic or anarogenic suites, and are characterized by their extreme enrichment in fluorine, association with lithophile elements and direct relationship with many primary deposits of rare metals (eg. Sn, W, Ta and Nb) found around the world. The Bom Futuro mine is located in the county of Ariquemes, north-central region of Rondonia State, and is one of the largest tin producer in the country and brings together two adjacent hills called Bom Futuro and Palanqueta, the last one being the representative surface of the Palanqueta massif. At the Palanqueta massif are recognized 5 granitic facies, 4 of them of topaz granites: equigranular biotite-alkali-feldspar granite, equigranular topaz-zinnwaldita-alkali-feldspar granite, porphyritic topaz-zinnwaldita-alkali-feldspar granite, porphyry topaz-zinnwaldita- alkali-feldspar granite and miarolitic topaz-zinnwaldita-alkali-feldspar granite, and aplite dikes, pegmatitic veins and veins and pipes of greisen mineralized in cassiterite. The pegmatite veins are cutting the aplite dykes and these all the other granitic facies. The contact relationships between the granitic facies is abrupt, but age relationship are only identified between the porphyritic topaz-zinnwaldita-alkali-feldspar granite and porphyry topaz-zinnwaldita-alkali-feldspar granite facies. The field, petrographic and geochemical data of Palanqueta massif allow classifies it as a within plate, A type, peraluminous. multifacies granitic massif, and member of the Younger Granites of Rondonia Suite. Although chronologically related the following order for placement of the granitic facies is proposed: biotite alkali-feldspar granite equigranular  topaz-zinnwaldita-alkali-feldspar granite equigranular  topaz-zinnwaldita-alkali-feldspar granite porphyry  topaz-zinnwaldita -álcali-feldspar granite miarolítico  topaz-zinnwaldita-alkali-feldspar granite porphyry. The Palanqueta massif does not have its physical boundaries defined, as well as their facies variation in vertical section, which implies the possibility of depth metallogenic potential, in accordance with other examples of topaz granites found in the literature.

Digital elevation models (DEMs) and their derivatives such as slope, flow direction and flow accumulation maps, are used frequently as inputs to hydrologic and nonpoint source modeling. The depressions which are frequently present in DEMs may represent the actual topography, but are often the result of errors. Creating a depression-free surface is commonly required prior to deriving flow direction, flow accumulation, flow network, and watershed boundary maps. The objectives of this study were: 1) characterize the occurrence of depressions in 30m USGS DEMs and assess correlations to watershed topographic characteristics, and 2) compare the performance of two algorithms used to remove depressions and delineate flow networks from DEMs. Sixty-six watersheds were selected to represent a range of topographic conditions characteristic of the Piedmont and Mountain and Valley regions of Virginia. Analysis was based on USGS 30m DEMs with elevations in integer meters. With few exceptions watersheds fell on single 7.5minute USGS quadrangle sheets, ranged in size from 450 to 3000 hectares, and had average slopes ranging from 3 to 20 percent. ArcView (3.1) with the Spatial Analyst (1.1) extension was used to summarize characteristics of each watershed including slope, elevation range, elevation standard deviation, curvature, channel slope, and drainage density. TOPAZ (ver 1.2) and ArcView were each used to generate a depression-free surface, flow network and watershed area. Characteristics of the areas 'cut' and 'filled' by the algorithms were compared to topographic characteristics of the watersheds. Blue line streams were digitized from scanned USGS 7.5minute topographic maps (DRGs) then rasterized at 30 m for analysis of distance from the derived flow networks. The removal of depressions resulted in changes in elevation values in 0 - 11% of the cells in the watersheds. The percentage of area changed was higher in flatter watersheds. Changed elevation cells resulted in changes in two to three times as many cells in derivative flow direction, flow accumulation and slope grids. Mean fill depth by watershed ranged from 0 to 10 m, with maximum fill depths up to 40 m. In comparison with ArcView, TOPAZ, on average affected 30% fewer cells with less change in elevation. The significance of the difference between ArcView and TOPAZ decreased as watershed slope increased. A spatial assessment of the modified elevation and slope cells showed that depressions in the DEMs occur predominantly on or along the flow network. Flow networks derived by ArcView and TOPAZ were not significantly different from blue line streams digitized from the USGS quadrangles as indicated by a paired t test. Watershed area delineated by ArcView and TOPAZ was different for almost all watersheds, but was generally within 1%. Conclusions from this study are: 1) The depressions in 30 m DEMs can make up a significant portion of the area especially for flatter watersheds; 2) The TOPAZ algorithm performed better than ArcView in minimizing the area modified in the process of creating a depressionless surface, particularly in flatter topography; 3) Areas affected by removing depressions are predominantly adjacent to the stream network; 4) For every elevation cell changed, slopes are changed for two to three cells, on average; and 5) ArcView and TOPAZ derived flow networks closely matched the blue line streams. / Master of Science

O topázio [Al2SiO4(F,OH)2] é mais freqüentemente encontrado na natureza na forma incolor, a partir do qual gemas azuis vêm sendo produzidas comercialmente através da aplicação de radiação ionizante seguida de tratamentos térmicos. O topázio também exibe termoluminescência (ou luminescência termicamente estimulada) relativamente intensa, que é a luz emitida por cristais previamente irradiados durante o aquecimento e representa a base para a aplicação de muitos cristais naturais e artificiais em dosimetria e datação. Nos últimos quarenta anos, um período de intenso estudo de vários materiais termoluminescentes, raros são os resultados relatados sobre a termoluminescência do topázio e, apesar de alguns esforços para entender a cor do cristal, os defeitos que participam tanto do mecanismo de emissão termoluminescente quanto do bem sucedido tratamento de melhoria de cor usado comercialmente não estão bem identificados. Neste trabalho foram estudadas as propriedades termoluminescentes do topázio e sua relação com o processo de produção de cor usando radiação ionizante. A termoluminescência foi investigada com três objetivos principais: caracterização básica, determinação de sua adequabilidade para aplicações em dosimetria e como uma ferramenta para o estudo dos processos de relaxação no sólido. Para entender os processos que ocorrem no cristal e determinar os possíveis defeitos envolvidos, além da termoluminescência, o material foi também estudado usando as seguintes técnicas: absorção óptica, fotoluminescência, ressonância paramagnética eletrônica, condutividade termicamente estimulada, luminescência e condutividade opticamente estimulada, fluorescência de raios X, etc. Baseado nos resultados experimentais e na solução numérica das equações de taxa para um sistema de múltiplas armadilhas interativas, propomos um modelo de termoluminescência que é capaz de explicar a maioria das propriedades observadas no cristal tais como a resposta com a dose linear-supralinear-saturação e a ausência de sensibilização, a particular resposta com a dose da condutividade termicamente estimulada, a cinética de formação da cor, a estabilidade da cor, etc. Além disso, a correlação entre os resultados de ressonância paramagnética eletrônica, absorção óptica e termoluminescência sugere que os defeitos AlO44-, Ti3+ e PO44- estão envolvidos no mecanismo de produção de cor e da termoluminescência. / Topaz [Al2SiO4(F,OH)2] is most frequently found in nature in the colourless form, from which blue gems have been commercially produced applying colour enhancement treatments with ionising radiation followed by annealing. Topaz also exhibits relatively intense thermoluminescence (or thermally stimulated luminescence), which is the light emitted by previously irradiated materials during heating and represents the basis for application of many natural and artificial crystals in dosimetry and dating. In the last forty years, a period of intense study of plenty thermoluminescent materials, results on the thermoluminescence of topaz have seldom been reported and, in spite of some efforts to understand the colour of the crystal, the defects participating both in the mechanism of thermoluminescence emission and in the commercially successful colour enhancement treatments are not well identified. In this work the thermoluminescence properties of topaz and its relation to the process of colour production using ionising radiation were studied. Thermoluminescence was investigated with three main objectives: basic characterisation, determination of its suitability for dosimetric applications and as a tool for studying the relaxation processes in the solid. In order to understand the processes occurring in the crystal and to determine the possible defects involved, in addition to thermoluminescence, the material was also studied using the following techniques: optical absorption, photoluminescence, electron paramagnetic resonance, thermally stimulated conductivity, optically stimulated luminescence and conductivity, X-ray fluorescence, etc. Based on the experimental results and on the numerical solution of the rate equations for a multiple trap interactive system, we propose a model of thermoluminescence which is able to explain most of the properties observed in the crystal as, for example, the linear-supralinear-saturation dose response of thermoluminescence and the absence of sensitisation, the particular dose response of the thermally stimulated conductivity, the kinetic of colour formation, the thermal stability of colour, etc. Besides, the correlation between the electron paramagnetic resonance, optical absorption and thermoluminescence results suggest that the defects AlO44-, Ti3+ and PO44- are involved in the mechanism of colour production and in the thermoluminescence.

O topázio [Al2SiO4(F,OH)2] é mais freqüentemente encontrado na natureza na forma incolor, a partir do qual gemas azuis vêm sendo produzidas comercialmente através da aplicação de radiação ionizante seguida de tratamentos térmicos. O topázio também exibe termoluminescência (ou luminescência termicamente estimulada) relativamente intensa, que é a luz emitida por cristais previamente irradiados durante o aquecimento e representa a base para a aplicação de muitos cristais naturais e artificiais em dosimetria e datação. Nos últimos quarenta anos, um período de intenso estudo de vários materiais termoluminescentes, raros são os resultados relatados sobre a termoluminescência do topázio e, apesar de alguns esforços para entender a cor do cristal, os defeitos que participam tanto do mecanismo de emissão termoluminescente quanto do bem sucedido tratamento de melhoria de cor usado comercialmente não estão bem identificados. Neste trabalho foram estudadas as propriedades termoluminescentes do topázio e sua relação com o processo de produção de cor usando radiação ionizante. A termoluminescência foi investigada com três objetivos principais: caracterização básica, determinação de sua adequabilidade para aplicações em dosimetria e como uma ferramenta para o estudo dos processos de relaxação no sólido. Para entender os processos que ocorrem no cristal e determinar os possíveis defeitos envolvidos, além da termoluminescência, o material foi também estudado usando as seguintes técnicas: absorção óptica, fotoluminescência, ressonância paramagnética eletrônica, condutividade termicamente estimulada, luminescência e condutividade opticamente estimulada, fluorescência de raios X, etc. Baseado nos resultados experimentais e na solução numérica das equações de taxa para um sistema de múltiplas armadilhas interativas, propomos um modelo de termoluminescência que é capaz de explicar a maioria das propriedades observadas no cristal tais como a resposta com a dose linear-supralinear-saturação e a ausência de sensibilização, a particular resposta com a dose da condutividade termicamente estimulada, a cinética de formação da cor, a estabilidade da cor, etc. Além disso, a correlação entre os resultados de ressonância paramagnética eletrônica, absorção óptica e termoluminescência sugere que os defeitos AlO44-, Ti3+ e PO44- estão envolvidos no mecanismo de produção de cor e da termoluminescência. / Topaz [Al2SiO4(F,OH)2] is most frequently found in nature in the colourless form, from which blue gems have been commercially produced applying colour enhancement treatments with ionising radiation followed by annealing. Topaz also exhibits relatively intense thermoluminescence (or thermally stimulated luminescence), which is the light emitted by previously irradiated materials during heating and represents the basis for application of many natural and artificial crystals in dosimetry and dating. In the last forty years, a period of intense study of plenty thermoluminescent materials, results on the thermoluminescence of topaz have seldom been reported and, in spite of some efforts to understand the colour of the crystal, the defects participating both in the mechanism of thermoluminescence emission and in the commercially successful colour enhancement treatments are not well identified. In this work the thermoluminescence properties of topaz and its relation to the process of colour production using ionising radiation were studied. Thermoluminescence was investigated with three main objectives: basic characterisation, determination of its suitability for dosimetric applications and as a tool for studying the relaxation processes in the solid. In order to understand the processes occurring in the crystal and to determine the possible defects involved, in addition to thermoluminescence, the material was also studied using the following techniques: optical absorption, photoluminescence, electron paramagnetic resonance, thermally stimulated conductivity, optically stimulated luminescence and conductivity, X-ray fluorescence, etc. Based on the experimental results and on the numerical solution of the rate equations for a multiple trap interactive system, we propose a model of thermoluminescence which is able to explain most of the properties observed in the crystal as, for example, the linear-supralinear-saturation dose response of thermoluminescence and the absence of sensitisation, the particular dose response of the thermally stimulated conductivity, the kinetic of colour formation, the thermal stability of colour, etc. Besides, the correlation between the electron paramagnetic resonance, optical absorption and thermoluminescence results suggest that the defects AlO44-, Ti3+ and PO44- are involved in the mechanism of colour production and in the thermoluminescence.