mineral

Yellow Quartz (Citrine or Quartzite Pebble)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Pale yellow to translucent golden. Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to waxy when weathered. Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Pale yellow to translucent golden
Luster: Vitreous (glassy) to waxy when weathered

Identified March 21, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the crystallization of silica-rich hydrothermal fluids in veins or as a constituent of igneous rocks. This specific rounded specimen has been weathered and shaped by water transport (fluvial or beach action) over thousands of years.

Uses & applications

Common quartz is used in construction and glassmaking. Colorful specimens are used for lapidary work (cabochons), tumbled stones for collectors, and metaphysical healing practices.

Geological facts

Yellow quartz is often called 'the merchant's stone' in folklore. Natural citrine is rare; most deep orange-yellow quartz on the market is actually heat-treated amethyst, though this specimen appears to be a naturally weathered iron-stained quartz pebble.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife and its lack of cleavage planes. Found globally in riverbeds, beaches, and glacial till. Collectors should look for clarity and intensity of color.

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