gemstone

Yellow faceted gemstone, likely citrine

Citrine: yellow variety of quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO₂)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Appears transparent to translucent, yellow, and faceted with vitreous luster. Quartz has Mohs hardness 7, hexagonal crystal structure, no prominent cleavage, and specific gravity about 2.65; the image cannot confirm whether this is natural citrine, heat-treated amethyst, or another yellow gem.

Identified September 13, 2026More gemstone →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Natural citrine forms when iron impurities color quartz in hydrothermal veins, pegmatites, and geodes, commonly associated with granitic rocks; quartz is mostly Precambrian to younger. Commercial citrine is frequently heat-treated amethyst or smoky quartz.

Uses & applications

Used primarily in jewelry and gemstone collecting; durable enough for rings, pendants, and earrings. It has little industrial significance compared with ordinary quartz.

Geological facts

Natural citrine is generally pale champagne to honey yellow, while strongly orange material is often heat-treated amethyst. Faceting and the display setting indicate a cut gemstone rather than a raw mineral specimen.

Field identification & locations

Check refractive index (about 1.544–1.553), inclusions, dichroism, and laboratory reports; glass imitations may show bubbles and lower hardness. Common sources include Brazil, Madagascar, Zambia, Uruguay, and Spain.