Citrine
A variety of Quartz
This page kindly sponsored in memory of Laszlo Z. Valachi
About Citrine
Formula:
SiO2
Colour:
Yellow - Orange
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
7
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
From citrina (color as yellow as citron).
A variety of Quartz
A yellow to yellow-orange or yellow-green variety of quartz.
Quartz colored by inclusions, or coatings, of any kind is not called citrine. Iron-stained quartz should not be mistaken for citrine.
The cause of the color is still under debate. Like smoky quartz, natural citrines pale when heated above 200-500°C and turn yellow again when irradiated (Lehmann, 1970), and they also slowly pale in UV light. This indicates the presence of color centers. At least some citrine is colored by aluminum-based and irradiation-induced color centers related to those found in smoky quartz (Lehmann, 1972; Maschmeyer et al., 1980). Accordingly, transitions to smoky quartz ("smoky citrine") exist, many citrines show smoky phantoms. There appear to be at least two types of yellow Al-based color centers with different thermal stability (Schmetzer, 1988). Since the yellow color centers are often more stable than the smoky color centers, some smoky quartz can be turned into citrine by careful heating (Nassau and Prescott, 1977). Natural citrine, as well as citrine produced by heating smoky quartz, is dichroic in polarized light.
Note: Natural citrine is very rare. 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, and also shows no dichroism in polarized light.
That a crystal shows dichroism does not mean it is natural citrine, it just means it is not heated amethyst. Certain smoky quartz and rock crystals can be turned yellow by careful heat treatment and/or irradiation, and these crystals will show dichroism.
Thin coatings of iron oxides on colourless quartz, as well as inclusions of yellow iron oxides ("limonite"), may simulate citrine.
A yellow to yellow-orange or yellow-green variety of quartz.
Quartz colored by inclusions, or coatings, of any kind is not called citrine. Iron-stained quartz should not be mistaken for citrine.
The cause of the color is still under debate. Like smoky quartz, natural citrines pale when heated above 200-500°C and turn yellow again when irradiated (Lehmann, 1970), and they also slowly pale in UV light. This indicates the presence of color centers. At least some citrine is colored by aluminum-based and irradiation-induced color centers related to those found in smoky quartz (Lehmann, 1972; Maschmeyer et al., 1980). Accordingly, transitions to smoky quartz ("smoky citrine") exist, many citrines show smoky phantoms. There appear to be at least two types of yellow Al-based color centers with different thermal stability (Schmetzer, 1988). Since the yellow color centers are often more stable than the smoky color centers, some smoky quartz can be turned into citrine by careful heating (Nassau and Prescott, 1977). Natural citrine, as well as citrine produced by heating smoky quartz, is dichroic in polarized light.
It has also been suggested that iron is the cause of color, as artificial crystals grown in an iron-bearing solution turn out orange. However, the dichroic behavior of the lab-grown crystals differs from that in natural citrine (Rossmann, 1994), and the UV-sensitivity of natural citrines indicates that the color is not simply caused by built-in trace elements.
Citrine can be found in the same geological environments as smoky quartz and is often associated and intergrown with it. Contrary to amethyst, citrine crystals may show a macromosaic structure and become very large (meter-size crystals of good quality have been found Minas Gerais, Brazil).
Note: Natural citrine is very rare. 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, and also shows no dichroism in polarized light.
That a crystal shows dichroism does not mean it is natural citrine, it just means it is not heated amethyst. Certain smoky quartz and rock crystals can be turned yellow by careful heat treatment and/or irradiation, and these crystals will show dichroism.
Thin coatings of iron oxides on colourless quartz, as well as inclusions of yellow iron oxides ("limonite"), may simulate citrine.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Citrine.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1054 (as Citrine)
3337 (as Quartz)
3337 (as Quartz)
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1054:8 (as Citrine)
mindat:1:1:3337:0 (as Quartz)
mindat:1:1:3337:0 (as Quartz)
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
7a5ef029-aa29-4ca0-8278-7c16568fbb6d (as Citrine)
4ca61d6f-75f8-4208-8fb2-3b0eecbcd8f0 (as Quartz)
4ca61d6f-75f8-4208-8fb2-3b0eecbcd8f0 (as Quartz)
Physical Properties of Citrine
Chemistry of Citrine
Mindat Formula:
SiO2
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Citrine
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Synonyms of Citrine
Other Language Names for Citrine
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
43 photos of Citrine associated with Smoky Quartz | SiO2 |
33 photos of Citrine associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
31 photos of Citrine associated with Danburite | CaB2Si2O8 |
28 photos of Citrine associated with Amethyst | SiO2 |
19 photos of Citrine associated with Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
15 photos of Citrine associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
11 photos of Citrine associated with Fluorite | CaF2 |
8 photos of Citrine associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
8 photos of Citrine associated with Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
8 photos of Citrine associated with Schorl | NaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
Other Information
Health Risks:
Citrine is a variety of quartz which is usually quite harmless unless broken or powdered. Broken crystals and masses may have razor-sharp edges that can easily cut skin and flesh. Handle with care. Do not grind dry since long-term exposure to finely ground powder may lead to silicosis.
Internet Links for Citrine
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1054.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Citrine
Localities for Citrine
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Angola | |
| António Manuel Ináçio Martins ... |
Argentina | |
| Raúl Jorge Tauber Larry |
| www.papachacraminerals.com.ar (n.d.) |
| |
Raúl Jorge Tauber Larry | |
Hugo A. Peña (1970) | |
| Raúl Jorge Tauber Larry´s collection. |
| Raúl Jorge Tauber Larry |
| Raúl Jorge Tauber Larry´s collection. |
| Raúl Jorge Tauber Larry |
Australia | |
| Patrick Gundersen |
| P.Gundersen (personal communication) |
| Personal Collection |
Henley et al. (2001) | |
Keith Compton | |
| Birch (1999) |
| NT mines + personal collecting |
| Thompson (ed) |
| www.nrm.qld.gov.au (2003) |
| Barnes L. C. et al. (1980) |
| Paul Stahl collection |
| R Bottrill collection |
| Cochrane et al. (1971) |
Dunn et al. (1913) | |
Austria | |
| Paar et al. (1998) |
| Niedermayr et al. (1995) |
Niedermayr et al. (1995) | |
Niedermayr et al. (1995) +1 other reference | |
| Exel (1993) |
| Niedermayr et al. (1995) |
| RIEDEL (2011) |
Exel (1993) | |
| Peter Lamatsch collection |
| Alois Kranzl collection |
| Exel (1993) |
| Grolig et al. (2003) |
| Strasser (1989) |
| Exel (1993) |
Gerd Stefanik collection | |
| H. Meixner: Carinthia II 143./63.:96-97 (1953) +1 other reference |
| Hans Commenda |
Bolivia | |
| Vasconcelos et al. (1994) |
Brazil | |
| Sauer (1982) |
Sauer (1982) | |
Amir Akhavan | |
Sauer (1982) | |
| Sauer (1982) +1 other reference |
Sauer (1982) | |
Sauer (1982) | |
| Sauer (1982) |
Mason (1976) | |
www.mindat.org (n.d.) | |
Sauer (1982) | |
Sauer (1982) | |
| Mineralogical Record (2009) |
Karel Bal Collection | |
Sauer (1982) | |
Sauer (1982) | |
Rafael Corrêa-Silva | |
| Cassedanne et al. (1990) |
| Amir Akhavan Collection |
Russ Rizzo Collection | |
Sauer (1982) | |
Sauer (1982) | |
Proctor (1984) | |
| Kievlenko et al. (2003) |
| Small quartz crystals et al. (USP - São Paulo University) |
Amir Akhavan +1 other reference | |
Canada | |
| Title: Geological +3 other references |
| Identified by Mineral Associates Inc. |
| Ontario Gem Company |
www.alpinegems.net | |
China | |
| Joe Freilich specimen |
| Yantian Guo and Guangming Tian (1979) |
Colombia | |
| Russ Rizzo Collection |
Czech Republic | |
| Sejkora et al. (Českomoravská vrchovina) |
| Černý et al. (Weisser Stein) |
| Beran et al. (2006) |
| geological prospecting |
| Fengl (1.) |
| Pauliš |
| Historic mineral collection National ... |
| Novák |
| V. Mátl: Lokalita Česká mez u ... |
DR Congo | |
| Safaa Yu collection |
| Information Eric Greene |
Germany | |
| Weiß (1990) |
| F. Müller: "Bayerns steinreiche Ecke" (1984) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| various added photos |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Lapis 30 (7/8) |
| 50. +1 other reference |
Greece | |
| Christos Spiromitros - Chris ... |
Hungary | |
| Szakáll & Weiszburg: Telkibánya |
Szakáll & Weiszburg: Topographia ... | |
| |
| |
| Szakáll-Gatter: Hungarian Mineral ... |
| Koch: Minerals of Hungary |
India | |
| minerals.gps.caltech.edu (n.d.) |
Kazakhstan | |
| Evseev (1995) |
| Bespaev H.A. et al. (Almaty, 1999) |
| State Gems (Samotsvety) |
According reports of Kazquartz ... | |
Latvia | |
| Dmitry Vorobjov's collection |
| Dmitry Vorobjov's collection +1 other reference |
Madagascar | |
| Pezzotta F. et al. (2004) |
Gobert (2020) | |
| Pezzotta (1999) |
| Pezzotta (1999) |
Lacroix (1922) | |
| Pezzotta et al. (2013) |
Pezzotta (2011) | |
| Behier (1963) |
| Behier (1963) |
Mexico | |
| Rob Lavinsky |
| ... |
Panczner (1987) | |
| Panczner (1987) |
Morocco | |
| Amir Akhavan Collection |
Mozambique | |
| Geotrade Bohemia |
| |
Wilson et al. (2000) | |
Myanmar | |
| Themelis (2008) |
| Themelis (2008) |
Namibia | |
| Amir Akhavan Collection |
von Bezing (2007) | |
| various added photos |
New Zealand | |
| Lilley |
Norway | |
| Revheim (2006) |
| Harald Kvarsvik collection |
| Egil Hollund Collection |
| P. Andresen collection (2006) |
| Larsen et al. (2013) |
Nordrum et al. (1999) | |
Nordrum et al. (1999) | |
| Nordrum (2012) |
Viktor Strøm Collection (pers. com to Egil Hollund 2011) | |
Peru | |
| Petersen (1970) |
Poland | |
| K. Łobos - Kamienie szlachetne i ... |
| Awdankiewicz M. & Szymański M. 2009: New data on the structure (Lower Permian) |
Portugal | |
| Martins da Pedra collection |
| Martins da Pedra collection |
| Rui Nunes' collection |
Romania | |
| Amir Akhavan edit based on photos 585282 |
Russia | |
| Pavel M. Kartashov |
| Bukanov et al. (2012) |
Fersman Mineralogical Museum +1 other reference | |
| Rob Lavinsky specimens |
| Amir Akhavan Collection |
Slovakia | |
| |
South Africa | |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) |
| - (Error for yellow iron-stained quartz) +1 other reference |
Spain | |
| Arroyo et al. (1995) |
Sri Lanka | |
| Dissanayake et al. (2000) |
Ceylon Aluvial Mine (Book, Co. 2002) | |
UK | |
| Golley et al. (1995) |
| Golley et al. (1995) |
| Golley et al. (1995) |
Golley et al. (1995) | |
Golley et al. (1995) | |
Golley et al. (1995) | |
| [J.Ralph Collection] |
| Bauer (1904) |
Ukraine | |
| Tischenko A. data |
| Lebid et al. (200) |
Uruguay | |
| California Federation of Mineralogical ... |
USA | |
| C. Wellington Rose |
| Rocks & Min.:63:122 +1 other reference |
| Rocks & Min.: 15:41. |
Personal Collection | |
| Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 346. +2 other references |
Pelletier | |
| Stephenson (2007) |
| Weber (1963) |
| Fisher (2002) |
| San Diego Mining Company (1996) |
| Ritchie |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Dennis & Tammey Schneider Collection |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Samuel Robinson (1825) +1 other reference |
| Ralph Lieser of Pappy’s Beryl Shop +3 other references |
| Samuel Robinson (1825) |
| Gems and Minerals of America- Jay Ellis ... |
Gems and Minerals of America- Jay Ellis ... | |
| |
| |
Personally collected and sight ... | |
| Guidebook 1 to Mineral Collecting in ... |
| Mineral News (1993) |
| Thompson |
| Gleba (2008) |
Sears (1905) | |
| Emerson (1895) |
| Hitchcock (1835) |
| Sherwood et al. (1998) |
Sherwood et al. (1998) | |
| Gobla (2012) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Rocks & Minerals 82:415-418 |
Castor et al. (2004) | |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Rocks & Min 65:295 (1990) |
Morrill | |
Smith (2005) | |
Rocks & Min 80:249 +1 other reference | |
Harvard Mineralogical Museum | |
| Nashua Min. Soc. Display Cat. |
| Gems and Minerals of America -Jay Ellis ... |
| Speiser (1978) |
Ransom (1974) | |
| Northrop et al. (1996) |
| |
| Mineralogical Record (2002) |
Rob Lavinsky | |
Speer et al. (2008) | |
Kunz | |
Dorothy M. Schlegal (1957) | |
Dorothy M. Schlegal (1957) | |
| Wilson et al. (1978) |
| www.rosecreekmine.com (2005) |
| |
Samuel Robinson (1825) | |
| Rocks & Minerals (1986) |
| www.omsinc.org (2008) |
| Smith (1991) |
| Collected by Sebastian Tauber in ... |
| |
Vietnam | |
| Le Thi Thu Huong (2012) |
Zambia | |
| Lapis 36 (12) |
Peter Beckwith collection | |
Peter Beckwith collection | |
P Cristofono collection |
Olkhovka deposit, Krasnovishersky District, Perm Krai, Russia