mineral

Yellow Quartz (Citrine/Yellow Chalcedony)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Translucent yellow to honey-orange. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal). Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Translucent yellow to honey-orange
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified March 13, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Translucent yellow to honey-orange. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal). Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed in igneous environments like pegmatites or hydrothermal veins where silicon-rich water cools. The yellow color typically comes from trace amounts of iron or natural radiation. This specific specimen appears to be a river-worn pebble, likely relocated during the Quaternary period through erosion.

Uses & applications

Used primarily in jewelry as a gemstone, decorative carvings, and in alternative healing 'crystal' markets. High-purity quartz is also essential in the electronics and glass industries.

Geological facts

Naturally occurring citrine is quite rare; most 'citrine' in the commercial market is actually heat-treated amethyst or smoky quartz. Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (it will scratch glass easily), lack of cleavage, and translucent yellow color. Common in dry riverbeds or gravel deposits near metamorphic terrain.

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