mineral
Tumbled yellow quartz (likely citrine or iron-stained quartz)
Quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂), yellow coloration from iron impurities
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 7 Mohs; pale yellow to honey-gold, translucent, with a glassy-to-waxy luster and no obvious cleavage. The rounded shape indicates tumbling or natural abrasion; crystal structure is trigonal, though individual crystal faces are absent.
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 Mohs; pale yellow to honey-gold, translucent, with a glassy-to-waxy luster and no obvious cleavage. The rounded shape indicates tumbling or natural abrasion; crystal structure is trigonal, though individual crystal faces are absent.
Formation & geological history
Quartz forms in igneous, hydrothermal, and metamorphic environments; yellow color may result from iron staining or irradiation. The specimen’s exact geological age and locality cannot be determined from the image.
Uses & applications
Used as a lapidary, ornamental, and inexpensive jewelry material; potentially collectible if the color is natural citrine rather than heat-treated amethyst.
Geological facts
Natural citrine is relatively uncommon; much commercial “citrine” is heat-treated amethyst, often showing orange color and reddish bases. Similar yellow stones include yellow calcite and chalcedony.
Field identification & locations
Quartz should scratch ordinary glass but not be scratched by a steel knife; calcite will not scratch glass and reacts with dilute acid. Common sources include Brazil, Uruguay, Madagascar, and the United States.
