mineral

Raw citrine or iron-stained quartz fragment

Quartz, SiO₂; yellow color likely from iron impurities

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Translucent honey-yellow, vitreous luster, likely hardness 7 Mohs, conchoidal fracture, no obvious cleavage, and hexagonal crystal structure. The small irregular fragment may be naturally broken or roughly tumbled.

Identified August 16, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz formed in silica-rich hydrothermal veins or cavities; yellow citrine commonly develops from trace iron and heating. Its exact geological age cannot be determined from the image.

Uses & applications

Used as a specimen or lapidary material; transparent, attractive pieces may be cut into gemstones. Small cloudy fragments generally have modest decorative value.

Geological facts

Natural citrine is relatively uncommon; much commercial “citrine” is heat-treated amethyst or smoky quartz. Orange coloration can also reflect iron-oxide staining rather than true citrine.

Field identification & locations

Commonly found in Brazil, Madagascar, Zambia, Spain, and the United States. Confirm with a glass-scratch test only on an unimportant surface; quartz should scratch glass, while a loupe may reveal crystal faces or inclusions.