mineral
Yellow Quartz
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Color is yellow, ranging from pale lemon to deep golden. Luster is vitreous to greasy when tumbled. Crystal structure is trigonal (microcrystalline or macrocrystalline quartz). Cleavage is none, conchoidal fracture. Specific gravity is 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Color is yellow, ranging from pale lemon to deep golden. Luster is vitreous to greasy when tumbled. Crystal structure is trigonal (microcrystalline or macrocrystalline quartz). Cleavage is none, conchoidal fracture. Specific gravity is 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Forms in hydrothermal veins, pegmatites, and sedimentary environments. The yellow color is typically caused by natural irradiation or sub-microscopic inclusions of iron oxides or hydroxides.
Uses & applications
Used in jewelry, decorative items, lapidary arts, crystal healing, and mineral collections.
Geological facts
Natural yellow quartz is sometimes marketed as citrine, although much of the commercial citrine is actually heat-treated amethyst. Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in Earth's continental crust.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its yellow color, hardness (scratches glass), and conchoidal fracture. Commonly sourced from Brazil, Madagascar, and the United States.
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