mineral

Citrine

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Yellow to brownish-orange; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Color: Yellow to brownish-orange
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified July 12, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Yellow to brownish-orange; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Often formed in pegmatites or hydrothermal veins where silica-rich fluids cool. Natural citrine is rare; many commercial specimens are heat-treated amethyst or smoky quartz.

Uses & applications

Extensively used in jewelry (faceting and cabochons), as a birthstone for November, and for crystal collecting.

Geological facts

Citrine is known as the 'Success Stone' or 'Merchant's Stone' in folklore. Natural citrine lacks the opaque white bases often seen in heat-treated amethyst citrine.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its transparency and yellow hue. Found in Brazil, Madagascar, and Russia. Authentic natural specimens show a consistent color gradient without bright white patches.