mineral

Citrine

Citrine (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: yellow to brownish-orange; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: yellow to brownish-orange
Luster: Vitreous

Identified May 25, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: yellow to brownish-orange; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Naturally formed in igneous rocks like pegmatites or hydrothermal veins when amethyst or smoky quartz is subjected to high temperatures. Most commercial citrine is heat-treated amethyst.

Uses & applications

Widely used in jewelry (beads, rings, faceted stones), as a collector's mineral, and in metaphysical practices where it is known as the 'Success Stone'.

Geological facts

Natural citrine is quite rare; most 'citrine' in the market is actually heat-treated amethyst, which takes on a deep orange-red hue when baked at high temperatures.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its yellow color and quartz-like fractures. Found commonly in Brazil, Madagascar, and Russia. Look for internal 'veils' or fractures as seen in these beads.