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At a glance, it’s impossible to distinguish a Texas blue topaz from one found in Brazil or Sri Lanka. Until recently, there were two ways to know for sure: if it came with a certificate of authenticity, or if you pulled it out of the ground yourself in Mason County in the Hill Country. This semiprecious stone is also found in places such as Colorado, Idaho, and Utah, but the Llano Uplift at the edge of Mason is the only geological region in Texas known to bear topaz. You can also find agate, fluorite, mica, and quartz, but topaz, specifically the rare sky-blue topaz, is the crown jewel. For decades, a few working cattle ranches in the area allowed rock hounds and tourists to explore their…

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