Description
Citrine, or lemon quartz, is the lemon-yellow, translucent variety of the mineral quartz (SiO₂). Properties: Like other varieties of quartz, translucent citrine is a nesosilicate. The yellow color is caused by trace elements, primarily divalent and trivalent iron. Citrine has a trigonal crystal system, and its hardness is 7. Name: The name citrine is derived from citrus (because of its yellow color). Depending on its color, this quartz variety was also formerly called Madeira topaz, golden topaz, or Bahía topaz, entirely incorrectly, as topaz is a completely different mineral. This was likely done to suggest greater value. Occurrence: The main sources of citrine are Brazil, Madagascar, and the former Soviet Union. Amethyst is often burned and sold as citrine. This can be recognized by its brown to black tips. Citrine is more valuable than amethyst.
