mineral

Yellow Quartz / Citrine Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Honey-yellow to light yellowish-brown; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: None, exhibits conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: ~2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Honey-yellow to light yellowish-brown
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified July 27, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in igneous pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, and metamorphic rocks. Yellow color is typically caused by ferric iron impurities or natural irradiation within the silicon dioxide crystal lattice.

Uses & applications

Widely used as an gemstone in jewelry, decorative stone carvings, lapidary projects, and popular among mineral collectors.

Geological facts

Natural citrine is relatively rare in nature. Many commercial citrines are produced by heat-treating amethyst or smoky quartz, but natural yellow quartz formed in pegmatite veins retains a soft, honey-like translucency.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its hardness (scratches glass easily, cannot be scratched by a steel blade), greasy to vitreous luster, lack of cleavage, and translucent yellow-brown coloration. Commonly found in Brazil, Madagascar, and Russia.

Other mineral specimens

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Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)

Arenite (SiO2 based)

sedimentary

Limonite / Goethite (Iron Ore Mineral nodule)

FeO(OH)·nH2O / FeO(OH)

mineral

Schist

Metamorphic

Septarian Pebble

Septarian nodule / Concretion

sedimentary

Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase)

Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8)

mineral

Sandstone with Mineral Veining or Crust

Sedimentary Sandstone (mostly SiO2 with Fe2O3 tinting)

sedimentary