mineral

Rough Citrine Quartz

Citrine (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2 with iron impurities)

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Pale yellow to brownish-orange; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Color: Pale yellow to brownish-orange
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified April 11, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Pale yellow to brownish-orange; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed through hydrothermal processes or in pegmatites where silica-rich fluids cool. Natural citrine is rare and often forms when amethyst or smoky quartz is subjected to geothermal heat over millions of years.

Uses & applications

Primarily used as a gemstone in jewelry (rings, pendants) and widely collected by mineral enthusiasts and practitioners of crystal healing as the 'merchant's stone'.

Geological facts

Natural citrine is quite rare in nature; most commercial 'citrine' is actually heat-treated amethyst or smoky quartz. It is one of the birthstones for November.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (will scratch glass) and lack of cleavage. In the field, look for hexagonal crystal habits and a glassy luster in igneous or metamorphic environments. Found in Brazil, Madagascar, and Russia.

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