mineral

Yellow quartz (likely citrine)

Quartz, SiO₂; citrine is iron-colored quartz

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Mohs hardness 7; transparent honey-yellow color, vitreous luster, trigonal crystal structure, and conchoidal fracture with no cleavage. The rough, irregular piece may also be heat-treated amethyst or yellow glass, though its appearance is consistent with quartz.

Identified September 12, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Natural citrine forms when trace iron colors quartz in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites, generally in igneous or metamorphic settings; quartz spans much of geologic time. Commercial citrine is commonly heat-treated amethyst.

Uses & applications

Used as a gemstone, lapidary material, and collector specimen; quartz is also important in glass, electronics, abrasives, and construction. This small rough piece has modest gem value.

Geological facts

Natural citrine is rarer and usually paler than heat-treated material, which often shows orange-yellow color and reddish tones near the base. A refractive-index test or hardness test is more reliable than color alone.

Field identification & locations

Common sources include Brazil, Madagascar, Spain, Uruguay, and Zambia. Identification requires scratching glass without being scratched by steel, plus quartz-like conchoidal fracture; avoid destructive testing on a valuable specimen.