mineral

Citrine

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) - Macrocrystalline Quartz variety

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Pale yellow to golden honey; Luster: Vitreous (glass-like); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Color: Pale yellow to golden honey
Luster: Vitreous (glass-like)

Identified March 23, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Pale yellow to golden honey; Luster: Vitreous (glass-like); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed in high-temperature silica-rich environments such as pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, and igneous rocks. Natural citrine is rare; most commercial specimens are heat-treated amethyst or smoky quartz.

Uses & applications

Predominantly used in jewelry (faceting and beads), as a decorative gemstone, and favored by crystal collectors and practitioners for its 'healing' metaphysics.

Geological facts

Natural citrine is often called the 'Success Stone.' Heat-treated citrine (amethyst that has been baked) usually displays a more reddish or opaque orange hue and a chalky white base, whereas natural citrine is typically more uniform and pale.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (scratches glass) and lack of cleavage. Common sources include Brazil (primary producer), Madagascar, Spain, and Russia. Look for the absence of internal color zoning to differentiate from lower-grade heat-treated specimens.

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