| The
name citrine refers to any quartz
crystal or cluster that is yellow
or orange in color. |
| Gemological
Information |
| Color
: |
Yellow,
Orange |
| Refractive
Index: |
1.544-1.553 |
| Chemical
Composition: |
SiO2 |
| Hardness: |
7 |
| Crystal
Group: |
Trigonal |
| Ocurrence: |
Brazil,
Uruguay, Mexico, Russia, USA. |
| Although,
often cut as a gemstone, citrine
is actually somewhat rare in nature.
Most citrines on the market have
been heat treated. Specimens of
low grade inexpensive amethyst or
smoky quartz are often cooked at
high temperatures to produce the
more profitable orange yellow citrine.
Citrines with colors produced by
artificial means tend to have much
more of an orange or reddish caste
than those found in nature which
are usually a pale yellow. Much
of the natural citrine may have
started out as amethyst but heat
from nearby magmatic bodies may
have caused the change to citrine.
Interestingly, a popular gemstone
on the market is a mixture of half
amethyst and half citrine and is
given the name ametrine. Unfortunately,
citrine is often confused with the
more expensive orange-yellow topaz
and is at times sold as topaz by
unscrupulous dealers. This practice
has soured many potential citrine
fanciers who see citrine as a fake
topaz and not as a legitimate gemstone.
|
|
|
|