mineral
Yellow tumbled stone, likely citrine or yellow calcite
Quartz (SiO₂), if citrine; alternatively calcite (CaCO₃)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectOpaque-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.
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Physical properties
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.
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.
