mineral

Yellow Quartz (Citrine Quartz Pebble)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Translucent golden-yellow to honey brown; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Translucent golden-yellow to honey brown
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified March 25, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in igneous and metamorphic environments, typically within pegmatites or hydrothermal veins. This specimen appears water-worn (alluvial), likely occurring over millions of years as the mineral eroded from its host rock and was tumbled by a river or stream.

Uses & applications

Used primarily in jewelry making (beads, cabochons), metaphysical collecting, and as a decorative landscape stone in larger quantities.

Geological facts

Natural yellow quartz is often called 'the merchant's stone' in folklore. While many commercial 'citrine' pieces are actually heat-treated amethyst, natural specimens like this water-tumbled pebble retain their color through natural irradiation or trace impurities of iron.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife (hardness 7) and its smooth, rounded 'river-rock' texture. Common in areas with granitic bedrock or mountainous riverbeds. Collectors look for clarity and depth of color.

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