Will the REAL Citrine please stand up!
Citrine is a beautiful and versatile mineral that is highly prized for its vibrant yellow to golden-brown color. This mineral is prized by gemstone collectors, crystal healers, and jewelry designers alike. But where does citrine come from? How is it mined? In this blog, we'll explore the entry level process of citrine identification and the unique properties of this gorgeous mineral.
Citrine is a variety of quartz, a mineral that is found in many parts of the world. It has been suggested that the yellow to golden-brown color of citrine is caused by the presence of iron impurities in the crystal structure, however as listed on Mindat...
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."
Citrine on the retail market is most commonly sourced from Brazil and South Africa, but of course there are other localities we will occasionally see on the market, such as the Russian Citrine. While rare Citrine has also been found all over the world! Natural Citrine is considered rare, especially high quality specimens.
Unfortunately most of the Citrine we see on the market is not Citrine at all, but rather Amethyst that has undergone a heat treatment process to make it orange, just like the pictured below.
|
Heat-Treated Amethyst often sold as "Citrine" |
Amethyst |
Additional Deceptive Citrine Examples:
|
Heat-Treated Bahia Amethyst |
Heat-Treated or Dyed. Notice the color saturation in the center. |
Citrine is not this "neon yellow. This is most likely a dyed specimen. Towers with this color pattern are also often sold as authentic citrine. |
Citrine mining is typically done using open-pit or underground mining methods. Open-pit mining involves the excavation of large pits in the ground to extract the mineral. This method is typically used when the deposit is near the surface and accessible. Underground mining is used when the deposit is deeper and requires excavation from below. This method is typically more dangerous and requires more specialized equipment and training.
In both open-pit and underground mining, miners first remove the overburden, which is the layer of rock, soil, and other materials that cover the mineral deposit. Once the deposit is exposed, the citrine is extracted using drills and explosives. The extracted citrine is then transported to a processing plant where it is cleaned, sorted, and cut.
Citrine is a relatively hard mineral, with a Mohs hardness rating of 7. This means that it is durable and can withstand a good deal of wear and tear. This durability makes citrine a popular choice for jewelry, as it can be set into rings, pendants, earrings, and other types of jewelry without being easily damaged, but most people don't realize how sensitive it is to UV light. Prolonged exposure to natural sunlight will diminish your Citrine's color. Never place it in a sunlit room or in direct sunlight. Natural citrine in jewelry will also fade over time. All of my citrine specimens are kept in dark corners.
Authentic Citrine Color Variations: Citrine can range from a Yellow-Orange or a Yellow-Green Variety of Quartz. I have been told by Gemologist that most of the Citrine in the Gem Market is lab created.
Color variation names are just trade names and vary greatly by seller here is a general guide to how I might classify those colors. This is just my personal standard, there is no industry set standard and I typically only use these terms with Brazilian Citrine.
Light Honey: Almost Clear to Very Pale Yellow
Honey/Champagne: Soft Yellow Color
Amber Color: Think of the color of a lighter Amber Ale
Golden Yellow: Gold with Yellow
|
"Amber Color" Excellent Color and Clarity |
"Amber Color"
|
"Golden Yellow"Locality: Brazil
|
|
Citrine Tumbles |
Trade Name: Kundalini Citrine |
Citrine |
|
"Honey Color" |
"Honey Color" |
Corinito Citrine |
Side by Side of Deceptive and Authentic Specimens:
|
 |
More Images on Mindat: https://www.mindat.org/min-1054.html
In conclusion, citrine identification can be tricky, but I hope this guide helps give you clarity and tips on how to begin the identification process. Citrine is becoming more and more rare and more and more deceptive specimens are showing up on the market.
Let me know below if you have seen any of these common deceptions.