Citrine

Citrine is the transparent yellow to orange-brown variety of crystalline quartz, colored by traces of iron. Its name derives from the French citron (lemon). It is one of the few naturally yellow gemstones and a durable, affordable jewelry stone.

Natural citrine is relatively rare; much commercial citrine is heat-treated amethyst or smoky quartz, which produces the deeper orange and reddish madeira tones. Both natural and treated material are real quartz and identical in chemistry.

As a member of the quartz family it shares a hardness of 7, good toughness and excellent clarity, making it suitable for everyday rings and pendants.

Citrine forms like other macrocrystalline quartz, crystallizing from silica-rich solutions in hydrothermal veins, pegmatites and cavities (geodes) within igneous and metamorphic rocks. The yellow color comes from trace amounts of iron in the crystal lattice and, in some cases, natural geological heating.

Natural citrine is uncommon; notable natural sources include the Anahi mine in Bolivia (also source of ametrine), Brazil, Madagascar, Russia and parts of the USA. Most market citrine is produced by heat-treating amethyst from Brazil and Uruguay, which converts purple iron color centers to yellow-orange.

Citrine is transparent yellow to golden or orange-brown quartz with a vitreous luster and a hardness of 7 (scratches glass and steel). It has no cleavage and breaks with a conchoidal fracture; streak is white.

Natural citrine is usually pale and slightly smoky yellow, while heat-treated amethyst tends to show deeper orange or reddish tones and sometimes a faint reddish tint near crystal tips.

Look-alikes: Yellow topaz is harder (8), denser and has cleavage. Yellow sapphire is much harder (9). Glass imitations lack the hardness and may show bubbles. Citrine is frequently confused with treated amethyst, but both are genuine quartz.

Citrine is a popular and affordable jewelry gemstone used in rings, pendants, earrings and bracelets; it is a traditional November birthstone alongside topaz. Its durability and warm color make it ideal for large faceted statement pieces.

Deep golden-orange Madeira and large clean stones are most valued, though all citrine remains relatively inexpensive. It is also tumbled and carved for ornamental use.

In metaphysical lore citrine is linked to abundance, optimism and the solar plexus chakra (the so-called merchant's stone), though such claims are not scientifically established.