mineral

Yellow Quartz (Citrine Quartz)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pale yellow to golden honey; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65

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

Identified May 14, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pale yellow to golden honey; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed in igneous and metamorphic environments, typically within pegmatites or hydrothermal veins. This water-worn pebble shape suggests it was weathered from a primary source and transported by a river, smoothing its edges over thousands of years.

Uses & applications

Used primarily in jewelry as a gemstone, as well as in crystal healing circles and as decorative collector specimens. Industrial-grade quartz is used in electronics and glass-making.

Geological facts

Naturally yellow quartz is relatively rare; many stones sold as 'Citrine' are actually heat-treated amethyst. When it occurs naturally, the yellow color is usually caused by trace amounts of iron or aluminum and irradiation.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (will scratch glass), lack of cleavage, and waxy-to-glassy luster. Frequently found in riverbeds or gravel deposits near quartz-rich mountainous areas.

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