Quartz · Mohs 7
Citrine: Identification, Meaning & Care
Citrine is yellow to orange quartz. Much commercial citrine is heat-treated amethyst, so origin claims need documentation.
Citrine properties
- Formula
- SiO₂
- Mineral group
- Quartz
- Mohs hardness
- 7
- Color
- Pale yellow to orange-brown
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Cleavage / fracture
- None; conchoidal fracture
How to identify Citrine
- Natural color is often pale and evenly distributed.
- Deep orange material with a white base is frequently heat-treated amethyst.
- Color alone cannot prove whether treatment occurred.
Citrine care
Water
Brief rinsing is generally tolerated; avoid harsh cleaners.
Light & heat
Avoid prolonged intense light and heat, especially for treated material.
Storage
Store separately from harder materials and cushion sharp edges, points, or cleavage-prone faces.
Traditional meaning
Modern folklore commonly connects citrine with optimism and abundance.
Traditional symbolism is presented as cultural history or personal practice, not as a scientific or medical claim.
Sources & further checking
- Mindat mineral database
- GIA Gem Encyclopedia
- RRUFF mineral database
- International Mineralogical Association
See our full methodology.