mineral

Tumbled yellow translucent mineral, likely citrine or honey calcite

Citrine: quartz, SiO₂; honey calcite: calcium carbonate, CaCO₃

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Small polished/tumbled, pale yellow translucent specimen with a vitreous-to-waxy luster; exact hardness and cleavage cannot be confirmed visually. Citrine has Mohs hardness 7 and no cleavage, while calcite has hardness 3 and prominent rhombohedral cleavage.

Identified August 21, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Citrine forms in silica-rich hydrothermal veins, commonly as heat-treated amethyst; calcite precipitates from groundwater or hydrothermal fluids. Both occur in relatively young and ancient geological settings.

Uses & applications

Citrine is used as a gemstone and collector stone; calcite is mainly decorative or industrial. Estimated value is about $1–$10 for a small common tumbled piece.

Geological facts

The image alone cannot reliably distinguish citrine from honey calcite, yellow chalcedony, or dyed quartz. A steel knife or glass-scratch test, performed carefully, can help: quartz scratches glass, whereas calcite does not.

Field identification & locations

Common sources include Brazil, Uruguay, Madagascar, Mexico, and the United States. Inspect for natural crystal zoning, cleavage, bubbles, or dye concentration; laboratory testing is needed for confident identification.