mineral
Tumbled citrine (likely)
Quartz, SiO₂; yellow-orange color may be natural citrine or heat-treated amethyst
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectMohs hardness 7; translucent honey-yellow to orange, vitreous luster, trigonal crystal structure, and no cleavage. The pieces are rounded and polished; color alone cannot confirm citrine rather than another yellow quartz or glass.
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Physical properties
Mohs hardness 7; translucent honey-yellow to orange, vitreous luster, trigonal crystal structure, and no cleavage. The pieces are rounded and polished; color alone cannot confirm citrine rather than another yellow quartz or glass.
Formation & geological history
Quartz forms in silica-rich veins and cavities, commonly in pegmatites and hydrothermal deposits. Natural citrine is uncommon; much commercial citrine is heat-treated amethyst, generally from deposits mined in Brazil or Uruguay.
Uses & applications
Used in jewelry, carvings, and mineral collections; these small tumbled pieces are mainly decorative or craft material.
Geological facts
Citrine and amethyst are color varieties of quartz, and heat treatment can turn some amethyst yellow-orange.
Field identification & locations
Check for quartz hardness and natural-looking inclusions; definitive separation of natural from treated citrine often requires gemological testing. Common commercial sources include Brazil, Uruguay, and Madagascar.
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