Citrine
Silicate (quartz variety) · SiO₂
Citrine is the yellow-to-golden variety of quartz; most on the market is heat-treated amethyst, while natural citrine is uncommon.
What is citrine?
Citrine is quartz in shades of yellow, gold and amber, coloured by trace iron. Genuinely natural citrine is fairly rare, so the great majority sold is amethyst that has been heated (naturally or in a kiln) until it turns golden. It shares all of quartz’s physical properties and is prized for its warm colour.
Properties
- Chemical formula
- SiO₂
- Category
- Silicate (quartz variety)
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 7
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Lustre
- Vitreous
- Streak
- White
- Colour
- Pale yellow to golden brown
- Cleavage / fracture
- None; conchoidal fracture
How to identify citrine
- →Yellow to golden-brown glassy quartz, hardness 7.
- →No cleavage, conchoidal fracture.
- →Heat-treated citrine often shows a reddish or burnt-orange tint near crystal tips.
- →Distinguished from topaz by lower density and lack of cleavage.
Where citrine is found
Natural citrine comes from Brazil, Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Most heat-treated material originates from Brazilian amethyst.
Citrine finds on minShelf
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