mineral
Yellow Quartz / Citrine Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on Mohs scale, vitreous/glassy luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture, warm yellowish-orange to honey color with translucent internal fractures.
Identified More mineral →
Explore Yellow Quartz / Citrine Quartz in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on Mohs scale, vitreous/glassy luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture, warm yellowish-orange to honey color with translucent internal fractures.
Formation & geological history
Formed in pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, and metamorphic rocks. Iron impurities within the macrocrystalline quartz lattice give it its distinct yellow-orange color.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as decorative stones, in lapidary work, tumbled specimens, wire-wrapping, metaphysical practices, and jewelry.
Geological facts
Natural citrine is relatively rare, so many dark orange-yellow specimens on the market are heat-treated amethyst or smoky quartz. Tumbled yellow quartz is a favorite among beginners for rock tumbling.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its glass-like clarity with minor internal frostings/fractures, scratch resistance against steel (Mohs 7), and absence of cleavage planes. Widely found in Brazil, Madagascar, and Russia.
More like this
Other mineral specimens
Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Schist
Schist
Metamorphic
Septarian Pebble
Septarian nodule / Concretion
sedimentary
Sandstone with Mineral Veining or Crust
Sedimentary Sandstone (mostly SiO2 with Fe2O3 tinting)
sedimentary
Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase)
Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8)
mineral
Gypsum (variety Selenite or Alabaster)
Calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO4·2H2O)
Mineral