mineral
Citrine Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with iron impurities
Hardness: 7 (Mohs), Color: Pale yellow to golden honey-brown, Luster: Vitreous (glassy), Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal), Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: 2.65
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs), Color: Pale yellow to golden honey-brown, Luster: Vitreous (glassy), Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal), Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Forms in igneous and metamorphic rocks, particularly in pegmatites and hydrothermal veins. Natural citrine is rare; many commercial specimens are heat-treated amethyst or smoky quartz.
Uses & applications
Mainly used as a gemstone in jewelry, for wire-wrapped pendants, and as a popular specimen for crystal collecting and metaphysical purposes.
Geological facts
Citrine is known as the 'Success Stone' or 'Merchant's Stone' in folklore. Natural citrine is pale yellow, while heat-treated amethyst often shows a deeper orange or burnt reddish hue with white bases.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its hardness (scratches glass) and lack of cleavage. In the field, look for hexagonal prisms in geodes or quartz veins. Primarily found in Brazil, Madagascar, and Russia.
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