mineral

Quartz (Variety: Citrine or Tumbled Chalcedony)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

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

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Color: Pale yellow to golden orange
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified March 3, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

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

Formation & geological history

Commonly formed in hydrothermal veins or as a secondary mineral in sedimentary environments. If natural citrine, it forms through the incorporation of aluminum and irradiation by geological processes.

Uses & applications

Used primarily in jewelry, lapidary arts, and gemstone collections. Quartz also has significant industrial uses in electronics and precision instruments.

Geological facts

Citrine is often called the 'Success Stone' or 'Merchant's Stone' in folklore. Many commercial specimens are actually heat-treated amethyst.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (will scratch glass) and lack of cleavage. Commonly found in riverbeds as water-worn pebbles or in geodes. Use a scratch test to confirm it is not calcite or plastic.

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