Citrine Quartz

Physical Properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Yellow, honey, or brownish; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65

Formation & Geological History

Forms in igneous rocks like pegmatites or in hydrothermal veins when quartz is exposed to high temperatures, often resulting from the presence of iron impurities.

Uses & Applications

Highly used in jewelry like rings and pendants, as decorative crystal clusters, and favored by collectors of semi-precious gemstones.

Geological Facts

Natural citrine is quite rare; most commercial citrine is actually heat-treated amethyst or smoky quartz. Some of the finest natural specimens come from the Ural Mountains of Russia.

Field Identification & Locations

Identify by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and yellow-to-amber transparency. Often found in Brazil, Madagascar, and the US (Colorado/North Carolina).

Identified on: 4/28/2026

Mode: Standard