mineral

Citrine Quartz (Yellow Quartz)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with iron impurities

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 April 25, 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 igneous and metamorphic environments, typically in pegmatites or hydrothermal veins. Much commercial citrine is produced by heat-treating amethyst or smoky quartz to alter the oxidation state of iron impurities.

Uses & applications

Primarily used as a gemstone in jewelry (rings, pendants), as a lapidary material for tumbled stones, and highly valued in metaphysical/collecting communities.

Geological facts

Natural citrine is quite rare; most 'citrine' on the market is actually heat-treated amethyst. It is known as the 'Success Stone' or 'Merchant's Stone' in folklore. It is one of the two birthstones for November.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and yellow-to-orange transparency. Found globally where quartz is abundant, notably Brazil, Madagascar, and Russia.

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Mineral/Rock

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Metamorphic Rock

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mineral