Citrine
Citrine is the yellow to orange variety of Quartz.The name Citrine is derived from the citron fruit, a yellow fruit similar to the lemon. (In fact, citron means "lemon" in several languages.)
| Chemical Formula | SiO2 |
| Color | Yellow, Orange, Brown |
| Hardness | 7 |
| Crystal System | Hexagonal |
| Refractive Index | 1.54 - 1.55 |
| SG | 2.63 - 2.65 |
| Transparency | Transparent |
| Double Refraction | .009 |
| Luster | Vitreous |
| Cleavage | Indiscernible |
| Mineral Class | Quartz |
Sources:
Brazil is the largest producer of Citrine. Other sources are Argentina, Madagascar, Zaire, Namibia, Spain, and Russia.
Similar Gemstones:
Citrine can be difficult to distinguish from yellow and orange Topaz. Citrine may also be confused with yellow Sapphire, which is usually a purer yellow and much harder, and can also be confused with Golden Beryl known as Heliodor. Some Grossular Garnets may also have a similar color to orange-red Citrine.