# Citrine

Citrine is a bright yellow crystal that looks like sunshine! It brings happiness and warmth wherever it is found.

- **Category:** [Mineral](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mineral)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Also known as:** Golden Quartz, Yellow Quartz

![Citrine](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426254/objects/5379.jpg)

## Appearance

The Citrine is a shimmering yellow to golden-orange mineral, often transparent and bright. Its sunny hues, ranging from pale lemon to deep amber, make it distinct from common clear quartz, resembling solidified sunlight.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia

## Interesting facts

- Ancient Romans treasured citrine, carving it into beautiful intaglio rings.
- It's named after the French word 'citron' because of its bright lemon-like color.
- Most natural citrine is actually heat-treated amethyst or smoky quartz!
- Some enormous citrine geodes have been discovered, weighing hundreds of pounds!

## Special abilities

- **Heat Shaper:** Citrine has the ability to change color when heated, often transforming from purple amethyst into its golden hue.
- **Tough Core:** Citrine has a high Mohs hardness of 7, making it durable and resistant to scratches from many other materials.
- **Light Bender:** Citrine is transparent, allowing light to pass through and refract, giving it a brilliant, sparkling appearance.

## Measurements & details

- **Color Range:** yellow, golden-orange, brownish-red
- **Hardness:** 7
- **Luster:** vitreous
- **Specific Gravity:** 2.65
- **Crystal System:** trigonal

## Traits

- [Vitreous Luster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/vitreous-luster): Vitreous luster describes a mineral's appearance when reflecting light, resembling glass, often translucent or transparent.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Geode](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/geode): A geode is a hollow, spherical rock formation lined with inward-growing crystals or concentric banding, often found in volcanic or sedimentary rocks.
- [Gemstone](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/gemstone): A gemstone is a piece of mineral crystal which, when cut and polished, is used to make jewelry or other adornments.
- [Crystalline](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/crystalline): Crystalline describes a mineral or rock composed of crystals, often exhibiting a regular atomic structure and geometric external form.
- [Natural](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/natural): Natural refers to organisms, materials, or phenomena existing or produced by nature, not artificially created.

## Collections

- [Minerals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/minerals)
- [Minerals & Rocks](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/minerals-and-rocks)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Handle gently and avoid sharp edges. Ask an adult before picking anything up.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Citrine?

Compare crystal faces, growth shape, clarity and how the crystals cluster. A polished or tumbled stone has lost much of the natural shape that makes identification easier. Crystal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### What colors can Citrine be?

yellow, golden-orange, brownish-red

### How hard is Citrine?

7

### What kind of luster does Citrine have?

vitreous

### What is Citrine's specific gravity?

2.65

### What crystal system does Citrine belong to?

trigonal

## More Mineral

- [Quartz Crystal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/quartz-crystal)
- [Amethyst](https://www.snappit.app/explore/amethyst)
- [Rose Quartz](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rose-quartz)
- [Smoky Quartz](https://www.snappit.app/explore/smoky-quartz)

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Source: [Citrine: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/citrine)