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Citrine Information
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Citrine Information
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See the Citrine Information Index
See the Citrine Information Index
Citrine is a macrocrystalline variety of the mineral Quartz (SiO2). Quartz is the most abundant single mineral on earth. It makes up about 12% of the earth's crust, occurring in a wide variety of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.
Quartz varieties are commonly separated into two groups based on the size of the individual quartz crystals or grains; macrocrystalline quartz in which individual crystals are distinguishable with the naked eye, and cryptocrystalline quartz in which the individual crystals are too small to be easily distinguishable under the light microscope.
Some of the macrocrystalline quartz varieties are: Amethyst, Ametrine, Cat's-eye Quartz, Citrine, Phantom Quartz, Rock Crystal, Rose Quartz, Rutilated Quartz and Smoky Quartz.
Blue Aventurine Quartz is a popular natural lapidary material for carving, cabbing and sphere making. It is actually a quartzite which is a rock, not a mineral, and both the blue aventurine quartz and the Green Aventurine Quartz are composed essentially of interlocking macrocrystalline quartz grains with disseminated grains of other color imparting minerals.
The cryptocrystalline varieties of quartz may be separated into two types;
fibrous and microgranular. Chalcedony is the general term
applied to the fibrous cryptocrystalline quartz varieties.
Agate is an example of a fibrous cryptocystalline
banded chalcedony variety of quartz. Carnelian, Chrysoprase and bloodstone
are other chalcedony varieties.
Chert is the general term applied to the granular cryptocrystalline
varieties of quartz, of which flint, Bloodstone and Jasper are examples.
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Citrine is less common in nature than amethyst, and it has the same general occurance. Citrine has been found in siliceous volcanics, occurring as macroscopic crystals and drusy coverings inside of agate lined amygdaloidal cavities or vugs, often forming geodes. Citrine also occurs in quartz veins.
The color of golden-orange citrine is due to small amounts (approximately 40 parts per million) of iron (Fe3+) impurities in the crystal structure of quartz. The difference between citrine and amethyst is only the oxidation state of the iron impurities present in the quartz. Subjecting amethyst to heat will reduce the oxidation state of the iron impurities in the quartz structure thereby causing amethyst's purple color to fade and become yellow to reddish-orange (citrine), green, or colorless depending on the site and original oxidation state of the iron impurities present and depending on the amount and duration of the heat applied. The purple color of amethyst usually can be regained by irradiation which re-oxidizes the iron impurities. This irradiation can be done by synthetic means, or it can occur in nature by radioactive decay of nearby radioactive minerals. In most cases this is a reversible process, however excessive heating may change the distribution of the iron impurities at the different sites within the quartz structure making it impossible to convert citrine back to amethyst by subsequent irradiation. The heating process can occur naturally or synthetically. At the present, it is not possible to determine whether or not an amethyst or citrine was synthetically irradiated or heated.
Citrine is recognized by its color, crystal habit, occurance, hardness, glassy luster, conchoidal fracture and lack of cleavage.
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Citrine has been used as gemstones, carvings, amulets and other ornamental objects for thousands of years. In most early references it was quite often confused with topaz.
The name citrine comes from the old French word citrin which means yellow. There has been much confusion between citrine and topaz, and citrine has previously been known as topaz, topaz-quartz, madeira topaz, Spanish topaz and Saxon Topaz, as well as by other names.
The astrological signs of citrine include Aries, Gemini,
Libra and Leo.
Citrine is one of the traditional birthstones for the month of November, along with topaz.
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Using citrine jewelry or holding citrine crystals is said to be especially usefull in stimulating one's mental capacities, enhancing creativity & intuition and bolstering one's self-confidence. Wearing a citrine ring, a citrine necklace or other citrine jewelry is also said to give emotional control while making one more alert. Golden citrine jewelry is also said to be very helpfull in assisting one to accumulate wealth and to maintain wealth.
Natural citrine jewelry is said to be usefull in helping to remove toxins from the body and to treat muscular disorders, and to help stimulate healing in general. Natural citrine also is said to have been used extensively in treating a number of other disorders including those of the heart, liver, kidneys and digestive system. Citrine is also said to help provide relief from the effects of radiation, and to facilitate absorption of antioxidants.
For more in-depth metaphysical information, see our Metaphysical Books section.
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