mineral
Citrine
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pale yellow to golden honey; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal system: Trigonal; Cleavage: None; Conchoidal fracture
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Pale yellow to golden honey
- Luster
- Vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pale yellow to golden honey; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal system: Trigonal; Cleavage: None; Conchoidal fracture
Formation & geological history
Formed in igneous pegmatites and hydrothermal veins. Natural citrine is rare and typically forms where quartz crystals are exposed to natural background radiation and heat over geological time.
Uses & applications
Popular as a gemstone in jewelry, ornamental carvings, and widely collected by mineral enthusiasts for metaphysical and aesthetic uses.
Geological facts
Most commercial citrine on the market is actually heat-treated amethyst or smoky quartz. Natural citrine is typically paler yellow compared to the reddish-orange tint of heat-treated specimens.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its quartz-like hardness, lack of cleavage, transparent to translucent clarity, and distinct yellow hue. Commonly found in Brazil, Madagascar, Russia, and Zambia.
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