mineral

Massive Quartz (Yellow/Citrine variety)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Yellowish-tan to semi-translucent; Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to greasy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal (often found in massive form without visible faces); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Yellowish-tan to semi-translucent
Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to greasy

Identified March 8, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through hydrothermal processes or via cooling from silica-rich magma (igneous). This specimen likely crystallized in a pegmatite or hydrothermal vein during any geological era where tectonic activity occurred, potentially hundreds of millions of years old.

Uses & applications

Used as an abrasive in industry, in the manufacturing of glass and ceramics, as a semi-precious gemstone in jewelry (when clarity is high), and widely used by collectors and in holistic practices.

Geological facts

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Specimens like this one get their yellow coloration from ferric iron impurities within the crystal lattice or from geothermal heating of amethyst or smoky quartz.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (it should easily scratch glass) and lack of cleavage (it breaks in smooth, curved surfaces rather than flat planes). It is commonly found in gravel pits, riverbeds, and mountainous regions globally.

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