mineral

Citrine (Heat-treated Amethyst)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with iron impurities

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Yellow to burnt orange/amber; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Yellow to burnt orange/amber
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified April 13, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Yellow to burnt orange/amber; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Most commercial citrine is created by heating Amethyst or Smoky Quartz to high temperatures (approx. 450°C). Natural citrine is rare and forms hydrothermally in igneous and metamorphic environments.

Uses & applications

Used extensively in jewelry (faceted gemstones), metaphysical healing practices, and as a popular mineral specimen for collectors.

Geological facts

Naturally occuring citrine is very rare. Most affordable specimens like this one, featuring a white base and a 'toasty' orange tip, are actually heat-treated Brazilian Amethyst.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its crystal habit (six-sided prisms) and lack of cleavage. In this specific specimen, the concentration of orange at the tip/edge of a white host is a primary indicator of heat treatment.

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