mineral

Honey-colored quartz (likely citrine or iron-stained quartz)

Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂); possibly iron-stained or heat-treated citrine

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 7 Mohs; translucent amber-orange color with a vitreous luster and conchoidal fracture, lacking obvious cleavage. Crystalline quartz is trigonal, though the specimen appears rough and partly opaque from inclusions or surface alteration.

Identified September 18, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz forms in hydrothermal veins, cavities, and igneous or metamorphic rocks; its geological age may range from recent to billions of years. The orange coloration commonly comes from iron impurities, inclusions, or irradiation/heating.

Uses & applications

Used for lapidary pieces, carvings, jewelry, and mineral collecting; quartz is also important industrially in glass, ceramics, electronics, and abrasives.

Geological facts

Natural citrine is relatively uncommon; much commercial orange citrine is heat-treated amethyst. A conchoidal fracture and inability to scratch it with a steel knife help distinguish quartz from softer amber or calcite.

Field identification & locations

Common sources include Brazil, Madagascar, Uruguay, and the United States. Confirm identity with a hardness test and, ideally, refractive index or spectroscopy; image-only identification is approximate.