mineral
Citrine Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Yellow to brownish-orange; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Yellow to brownish-orange
- Luster
- Vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Yellow to brownish-orange; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Forms in igneous and metamorphic environments, specifically in pegmatites and hydrothermal veins when iron impurities within quartz are heated naturally by geothermal activity.
Uses & applications
Widely used in jewelry (faceting and cabochons), as decorative display points for collectors, and in the lapidary arts.
Geological facts
Citrine is often called the 'Merchant's Stone' and is the birthstone for November. Natural honey-colored citrine is rare; much commercial citrine is actually heat-treated amethyst.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its hardness (will scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and yellow-gold clarity. Commonly found in Brazil, Madagascar, and Russia.
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Mineral/Rock
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Green Apatite on Albite
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mineral