mineral

Quartz (Citrine)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Yellow, honey-gold to smoky amber; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Yellow, honey-gold to smoky amber
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified May 26, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Yellow, honey-gold to smoky amber; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Commonly occurs in igneous and metamorphic rocks, specifically in pegmatites and hydrothermal veins. Natural citrine forms when amethyst or smoky quartz is subjected to intense heat from nearby magma or structural movements over millions of years.

Uses & applications

Widely used in jewelry as a gemstone, as an ornamental specimen for collectors, and historically in various decorative arts. It is also significant in holistic and metaphysical communities as the 'Success Stone'.

Geological facts

Natural citrine is quite rare; most 'citrine' available on the market is actually heat-treated amethyst. It is one of only two minerals on Earth that does not hold or accumulate negative energy, but instead dissipates and transmutes it.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (will scratch glass) and lack of cleavage. Look for it in quartz-rich veins. Note that natural citrine is usually pale yellow compared to the burnt-orange look of heat-treated varieties.