mineral
Citrine or Yellow Quartz Pebble
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 Mohs; Color: Pale yellow to honey-orange; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (Trigonal); Cleavage: None; Conchoidal fracture.
- Hardness
- 7 Mohs
- Color
- Pale yellow to honey-orange
- Luster
- Vitreous (glassy)
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 Mohs; Color: Pale yellow to honey-orange; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (Trigonal); Cleavage: None; Conchoidal fracture.
Formation & geological history
Typically forms as a variety of quartz in igneous (pegmatites) or metamorphic rocks; yellow color often results from heat-treated iron impurities. Common in riverbeds as rounded pebbles.
Uses & applications
Used in jewelry, crystal healing practices, and as a decorative stone or collector specimen.
Geological facts
Natural citrine is quite rare; most commercial citrine is actually heat-treated amethyst or smoky quartz. It is known as the 'Success Stone' in crystal folklore.
Field identification & locations
Identify by hardness (it will scratch glass) and lack of cleavage. Found globally, specifically in Brazil, Madagascar, and Russia. Look for smooth, translucent yellow water-worn pebbles.
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