mineral
Yellow Quartz (Citrine or Yellow Jasper)
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with iron impurities
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: Yellow to golden-orange, Luster: Vitreous to waxy, Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal, Cleavage: None (Conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: 2.65
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: Yellow to golden-orange, Luster: Vitreous to waxy, Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal, Cleavage: None (Conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Forms through hydrothermal activity or as a secondary mineral in igneous and metamorphic rocks. Natural citrine is rare; many yellow quartz specimens are heat-treated amethyst or microcrystalline jasper.
Uses & applications
Commonly used in jewelry, decorative carvings, metaphysical 'healing' crystals, and lapidary art. Industrial quartz is used in glass and electronics.
Geological facts
Natural yellow citrine is one of the rarest forms of quartz in nature. Most commercial 'citrine' is actually heat-treated amethyst, which turns yellow-orange at temperatures around 450 degrees Celsius.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of cleavage, and yellow hue. Found commonly in Brazil, Madagascar, and the Ural Mountains of Russia.
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