Color	Light yellow, golden yellow, orange, orange-brown, reddish brown
Hardness	7
SG	2.63 - 2.65
RI	1.54 - 1.55
DR	.009
Luster	Vitreous
Mineral class	Quartz
Composition	SiO2

Citrine is the yellow to orange variety of Quartz. Natural Citrine is not common; most Citrine on the gem market is produced by heat-treating Amethyst and Smoky Quartz. It takes a relatively low temperature to change the color light to golden yellow, and heating to higher temperatures will give the stone a darker yellow to brownish-red color. The name Citrine is derived from the citron fruit, a yellow fruit similar to the lemon. (In fact citron means lemon in several languages.)

Lightly colored yellow Citrine is usually naturally formed, and may also be called "Lemon Quartz" in the gem trade. Almost all of the heat-treated Citrine takes on a deep orange or slightly reddish tint. In general, the deeper colored stones are the most valuable, including those with a reddish tint.

Citrine is a very affordable gemstone, and all its color ranges are not expensive. It is most often confused with orange-yellow Topaz, which is very similar in color and body. Topaz is the more valuable gemstone, and dealers often sell Citrine labeled as Topaz. Several false trade names for Citrine are "Madeira Topaz", "Gold Topaz", and "Bahia Topaz". However, some fine Citrine gemstones have a pure yellow color that is rarely duplicated by golden Topaz.

Citrine can be found in large crystals, and flawless gems of all sizes have been cut. Synthetic Citrine can be produced using the hydrothermal method. A natural mixture of purple Amethyst and golden Citrine has been coined with name "Ametrine". (See the Ametrine gemstone page for more details.)

USES
Citrine is cut into all different types of gems, especially rectangular cuts. It is a very popular pendant stone as flawless stones of many carats are not uncommon. Lesser quality Citrine combined with white Quartz is also tumbled and used as beads for necklaces and bracelets.

VARIETIES
Madeira Citrine - Brownish-red to orange-red Citrine.
Palmeria Citrine - Citrine with bright orange color.
Golden Citrine - Citrine with a golden yellow color.
Yellow Citrine - Citrine with a lemon yellow color, and may also be called "Lemon Citrine" or "Lemon Quartz".

CITRINE SOURCES
Brazil is the largest producer of Citrine. Other sources are Argentina, Madagascar, Zaire, Namibia, Spain, and Russia.

SIMILAR GEMSTONES
Citrine is very hard to tell apart from yellow and orange Topaz. Citrine may also be confused with yellow Sapphire, which is usually a purer yellow and is much harder, and can also be confused with the yellow Beryl known as Heliodor. Some Grossular Garnets may also have a similar color to orange-red Citrine.

---

For fine Citrine, visit:

ALSO SEE The mineral Citrine The mineral Quartz The gemstone Amethyst The gemstone Ametrine The gemstone Quartz

_ _

This page is open to sponsor. _

Sponsor this page _

---

Copyright © 1997 - 2003 Hershel Friedman, all rights reserved.