metamorphic
Yellow Quartzite (Citrine-colored Quartz)
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with iron oxide inclusions
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pale yellow to light orange; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: Indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Pale yellow to light orange
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
Identified More metamorphic →
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pale yellow to light orange; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: Indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under heat and pressure. The yellow coloration typically comes from iron oxide (limonite or goethite) staining or inclusions within the crystal lattice.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as decorative stone, landscaping material, and occasionally in lapidary work for tumbled stones or cabochons.
Geological facts
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust. Specimens like this one, found in riverbeds, have been naturally tumbled and smoothed by water over thousands of years.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife and its lack of clear cleavage planes. Often found in riverbeds, glacial deposits, or near mountain ranges where sandstone has undergone metamorphism.
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