mineral

Yellow Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pale yellow to golden honey; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Pale yellow to golden honey
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified June 26, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pale yellow to golden honey; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins or as a late-stage mineral in igneous rocks like granite. Common in many geological environments involving silica-rich fluids.

Uses & applications

Large-scale use in glass making and electronics (as silicon source), while aesthetic pieces are used for lapidary work, jewelry, and metaphysical collections.

Geological facts

Yellow varieties of quartz are often called Citrine by collectors, though true natural citrine is rare; many specimens are heat-treated amethyst. Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its lack of cleavage, ability to scratch glass, and yellow translucent appearance. Often found as rounded pebbles in stream beds due to high durability.