mineral

Yellow Quartz (Citrine Quartz)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Yellow to honey gold; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal structure: Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (Conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale)
Color: Yellow to honey gold
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified April 5, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Yellow to honey gold; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal structure: Hexagonal; Cleavage: None (Conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Formed in igneous and metamorphic rocks, particularly in hydrothermal veins or pegmatites. This specific specimen appears to be a river-worn or water-tumbled pebble of quartz colored by iron impurities.

Uses & applications

Used widely in gemstone jewelry, crystal healing practices, and as a decorative collector's specimen.

Geological facts

Natural citrine takes its color from trace amounts of iron. Because it is rare in nature, most commercial citrine is actually heat-treated amethyst or smoky quartz.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its hardness (it should scratch glass) and its greasy-to-vitreous luster. Common in areas with granitic bedrock or as pebbles in stream beds.

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