mineral

Yellow tumbled stone, likely citrine or yellow calcite

Quartz (SiO₂), if citrine; alternatively calcite (CaCO₃)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Opaque-to-translucent mustard-yellow, glassy to waxy luster, smoothly tumbled with no visible crystal faces. Citrine has Mohs hardness 7 and no cleavage; calcite has hardness 3 and prominent rhombohedral cleavage.

Identified August 26, 2026More mineral →

Explore Yellow tumbled stone, likely citrine or yellow calcite in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Citrine forms when iron-bearing quartz is heated naturally or artificially; yellow calcite forms in sedimentary veins, caves, and hydrothermal deposits. The specimen’s geological age cannot be determined from the image.

Uses & applications

Used mainly as a decorative or metaphysical collectible; attractive transparent citrine may be cut for jewelry, while calcite is generally too soft for durable jewelry.

Geological facts

The color and rounded shape are consistent with a commercially tumbled stone, but photography alone cannot reliably distinguish citrine from dyed quartz, yellow jasper, or calcite.

Field identification & locations

Test hardness on an inconspicuous area: quartz scratches glass, while calcite does not and fizzes with dilute hydrochloric acid. Common sources include Brazil, Uruguay, Madagascar, Mexico, and the United States.