mineral
Polished citrine quartz point
Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂), yellow-orange variety commonly sold as citrine; possibly heat-treated amethyst
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectMohs hardness 7; translucent honey-brown to orange color, vitreous luster, trigonal crystal structure, and indistinct cleavage with conchoidal fracture. The pointed, polished form obscures natural crystal faces; internal clouding suggests included or fractured quartz.
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Physical properties
Mohs hardness 7; translucent honey-brown to orange color, vitreous luster, trigonal crystal structure, and indistinct cleavage with conchoidal fracture. The pointed, polished form obscures natural crystal faces; internal clouding suggests included or fractured quartz.
Formation & geological history
Quartz crystallizes from silica-rich hydrothermal fluids in cavities of igneous rocks and pegmatites, generally during late-stage cooling of the host rock. Natural citrine is uncommon; much commercial citrine is heat-treated amethyst from Brazil, formed over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used as a decorative display crystal, lapidary ornament, and occasional gemstone; quartz is also important in glass, electronics, abrasives, and construction aggregate.
Geological facts
Citrine’s yellow color commonly results from iron-related defects in quartz. The pictured object is a shaped or polished specimen rather than an intact natural crystal.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its glassy luster, hardness, quartz-like translucency, and lack of cleavage; citrine is commonly found in Brazil, Madagascar, Spain, Uruguay, and Zambia. A gemological test or locality information is needed to distinguish natural from heat-treated material.
