mineral

Citrine Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pale yellow to golden honey; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None; Specific gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Pale yellow to golden honey
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified July 18, 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; Specific gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed in igneous or metamorphic environments when amethyst or smoky quartz is subjected to high heat underground, or naturally through hydrothermal processes. Most commercial citrine is heat-treated amethyst.

Uses & applications

Widely used in jewelry, lapidary arts, and as a popular collector's mineral. Recognized as the birthstone for November.

Geological facts

Natural citrine is significantly rarer than heat-treated citrine. Heat-treated versions often show more intense orange/red tints, while natural citrine is typically a pale, earthy yellow.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness and lack of cleavage (conchoidal fracture). It is distinguished from yellow topaz by its lower hardness and from yellow glass by the presence of natural inclusions and absence of air bubbles.