mineral
Quartz Crystal (Citrine / Golden Quartz)
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: yellowish-tan to pale golden orange; Luster: vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: trigonal; Cleavage: none; Fracture: conchoidal.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- yellowish-tan to pale golden orange
- Luster
- vitreous to greasy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: yellowish-tan to pale golden orange; Luster: vitreous to greasy; Crystal Structure: trigonal; Cleavage: none; Fracture: conchoidal.
Formation & geological history
Formed in igneous pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, and metamorphic rocks through high-temperature crystallization of silica-rich solutions.
Uses & applications
Used in gemstone jewelry, ornamental carvings, mineral collections, and historical scientific/optical equipment.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's continental crust. Golden and yellowish varieties are often sold as natural or heat-treated citrine.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its ability to scratch glass (Mohs 7), lack of cleavage, and translucent yellowish crystalline appearance. Commonly found worldwide in granitic pegmatites and river gravels.
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