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Citrine

Big Photo

Brazil
5.28 carats
© Mineral Classics

The name Citrine is derived from its lemon yellow colour. Natural citrines are rare. Most commercial citrine is heat-treated amethyst or smoky quartz. Because the color is now caused by finely distributed iron minerals (mostly hematite and goethite), heated amethyst is not a citrine in the strict sense.
Quartz colored by inclusions of any kind is not called citrine.

Citrine Gemstones by Colour

This table shows the variety of hues this gemstone can be found in. Click on a photo for more information.
 
 
 
 
 

Citrine Gemstones by Size

This table shows distribution of Citrine gemstone sizes that are listed on this site. This can give a good indication as to the general availability of this gemstone in different sizes.
Contributed photos
Lightest:5.28 cts
Heaviest:48.25 cts
Average:19.16 cts
Total photos:14
Do you have a larger Citrine? Why not upload a photo?
5.28ct to 9.58ct9.58ct to 13.87ct13.87ct to 18.17ct18.17ct to 22.47ct22.47ct to 26.77ct26.77ct to 31.06ct31.06ct to 35.36ct35.36ct to 39.66ct39.66ct to 43.95ct43.95ct to 48.25ct
General Information
A variety or type of:Quartz
Chemical Formula
SiO
 
2
Michael ODonoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006)
Citrine Treatments
Routinely produced by heat-treatment of (smoky) amethyst: reddish tint, may show reddish-brown hematite inclusions (surrounded by crack). Non-dichroic unlike natural - Blue Chart Gem Identification, Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, 2010, p 7
Citrine Simulants
Large quantities of amethyst, usually of lesser quality, are heated to turn it yellow or orange and sold as "citrine." Because the color is now caused by finely distributed iron minerals (mostly hematite and goethite), heated amethyst is not citrine in the strict sense.
Thin coatings of iron oxides on colourless quartz, as well as inclusions of yellow iron oxides ("limonite"), may simulate citrine.
Physical Properties of Citrine
Mohs Hardness7
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Specific Gravity2.65
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
TenacityBrittle
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) Very brittle
Cleavage QualityNone
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
FractureConchoidal
Michael ODonoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006)
Optical Properties of Citrine
Refractive Index1.544 to 1.553
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Optical CharacterUniaxial/+
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
Birefringence0.009
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
PleochroismNatural: weak; yellow - light yellow. Heat-treated: none
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
More from other references
Dispersion0.013
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
ChatoyancyStar 6
Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Colour
Colour (General)Light yellow to dark yellow, gold-brown
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
More from other references
Causes of ColourYellow to orange, O2-Fe3+ charge transfer, various Al3+ related color centers.
W. William Hanneman, Pragmatic Spectroscopy For Gemologists (2011)
TransparencyTransparent,Translucent
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
LustreVitreous
Gemdat.org, Management Team (2012)
Fluorescence & other light emissions
Fluorescence (General)None
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
Crystallography of Citrine
Crystal SystemTrigonal
Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
HabitHexagonal prisms with pyramids
Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
More from other references
Further Information
Mineral information:Citrine information at mindat.org
Significant Gem Localities
Bolivia
 
  • Santa Cruz
    • Ángel Sandoval Province
      • La Gaiba mining district
Laurs (2001, 2010)
Brazil
 
  • Minas Gerais
    • Conselheiro Pena
      • Ferruginha
Macri et al. (2006)
Canada
 
  • Ontario
    • Thunder Bay District
      • McTavish Township
Sinkankas (1997)
Madagascar
 
  • Atsimo-Atsinanana
Pezzotta (2001)
  • Vakinankaratra
    • Mandoto
      • Anjoma Ramartina
Danet (2009)
Myanmar
 
  • Mandalay Region
    • Pyin-Oo-Lwin District
      • Mogok Township
        • Bernardmyo
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
        • Kyauk-Pyat-That
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Uruguay
 
  • Artigas Department
Gilg et al. (2003)
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