Yellow to orange variety of quartz. Natural citrine is relatively rare; most commercial citrine is heat-treated amethyst. Color: Yellow to orange-brown. Luster: Vitreous. Streak: White. Cleavage: None conchoidal fracture. Hardness: 7. Transparency: Transparent to translucent. Crystal system: Hexagonal Trigonal. Chemical formula: SiO₂. Specific gravity: 2.65. Formation: Forms in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites where iron impurities produce the yellow color. Common geological settings: Brazil, Spain, Russia, France; found in hydrothermal veins. Common look-alikes and related entries: Topaz, Yellow Beryl, Orthoclase.
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These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.
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Last updated
2026-03-30T14:36:42.231159+00:00
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Published; not independently peer-reviewed
IMA–CNMNC List of Mineral Names — International Mineralogical Association. Official mineral-name, nomenclature, and classification records.
Mineral ID Key — Mineralogical Society of America. Physical-property identification methods, repeat-testing guidance, and limitations.
Yellow to orange variety of quartz. Natural citrine is relatively rare; most commercial citrine is heat-treated amethyst.
How can you identify Citrine?
Compare several properties rather than relying on colour alone. This entry records colour: Yellow to orange-brown; lustre: Vitreous; streak: White; Mohs hardness: 7; cleavage: None conchoidal fracture; crystal system: Hexagonal Trigonal; transparency: Transparent to translucent. Confirm an important identification with additional field tests or qualified laboratory work.
How does Citrine form?
Forms in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites where iron impurities produce the yellow color.
Where is Citrine commonly found?
Brazil, Spain, Russia, France; found in hydrothermal veins.
What is Citrine commonly confused with?
Citrine may be confused with Topaz, Yellow Beryl, Orthoclase. Compare multiple diagnostic properties because colour and surface appearance can overlap.
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