mineral
Citrine (Heat-Treated Amethyst)
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with ferric iron impurities
Hardness: 7; Color: Yellow to golden-orange; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7
- Color
- Yellow to golden-orange
- Luster
- Vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7; Color: Yellow to golden-orange; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed in hydrothermal veins or pegmatites. Most commercial citrine, like this specimen, is created by heat-treating low-quality amethyst or smoky quartz to change its color from purple to orange-yellow.
Uses & applications
Predominantly used for jewelry, lapidary arts, and ornamental crystal collections.
Geological facts
Natural citrine is quite rare in nature; most 'citrine' sold today is actually heat-treated amethyst. You can tell it is heat-treated by the white, opaque base and the concentrated orange-burnt color near the tips.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its quartz-like hardness and yellow-orange hue. Look for color zoning or white 'root' sections that suggest heat-treated amethyst. Found commonly in Brazil, Madagascar, and Russia.
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