Citrine
Image: James Petts from London, England (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Mineral NameCitrine
Chemical FormulaSiO2
Mohs Hardness7
Crystal Systemtrigonal
Lustervitreous
Streak ColorWhite
CleavageNone
FractureConchoidal
Specific Gravity2.65
Colorsamber, orange-brown, yellow-brown
TransparencyTransparent to translucent
Type LocalityBrazil, Madagascar, Russia
Mineral GroupSilicates
Usesjewelry, collector, ornamental
Associated Mineralsfeldspar, mica, other quartz varieties
Rarityuncommon
Description
A cluster of small, sparkling, amber to orange-brown crystals forming a drusy coating on a lighter-colored matrix. The individual crystals are sharp and exhibit a glassy luster.
Geological Context
Citrine is a variety of quartz that forms in igneous and metamorphic rocks, typically in hydrothermal veins, pegmatites, and geodes, where silica-rich fluids deposit quartz crystals. Its characteristic color is due to iron impurities within the crystal lattice.
