mineral

Citrine (Tumbled Quartz)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pale yellow to golden yellow; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: ~2.65.

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

Identified July 25, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pale yellow to golden yellow; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: ~2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed in igneous pegmatites and hydrothermal veins. Natural citrine derives its color from trace amounts of iron ions built into the quartz crystal lattice under geological heat.

Uses & applications

Widely used in jewelry (rings, pendants, beads), lapidary art, wire-wrapping, and as a popular gemstone specimen for crystal collections.

Geological facts

Natural pale yellow citrine is relatively rare in nature; much of the dark orange commercial citrine is created by heat-treating amethyst or smoky quartz.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its Mohs hardness of 7 (scratches glass), glass-like transparency, conchoidal fracture, and pale yellow hue. Found in Brazil, Madagascar, Russia, and Zambia.