What it is confused with
Heated amethyst, yellow topaz and glass. Heat-treated amethyst tends toward burnt orange with darker tips, while natural citrine is paler and more even.
Pale yellow to amber brown
Citrine crystals
Citrine is silicon dioxide (SiO₂) — quartz colored by iron, pale yellow to amber brown, rated 7 on the Mohs scale. Traditionally, it is associated with enterprise, optimism and material momentum — attributed, not demonstrated.
- Mohs hardness
- 7 scratches window glass
- Crystal system
- Trigonal SiO₂
- Main sources today
- Brazil also Madagascar, Russia
Is Citrine a birthstone?
Yes. Citrine is the modern birthstone for November.
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Properties
Composition
Silicon dioxide (SiO₂) — quartz colored by iron
Hardness (Mohs)
7
Crystal system
Trigonal
Color
Pale yellow to amber brown
Mined in
Brazil, Madagascar, Russia, Spain
Worth knowing
Natural citrine is uncommon. Most stones sold as citrine are heat-treated amethyst — the giveaway is a concentrated color near the tip.
History
Named from the French citron; popular in Art Deco jewelry of the 1920s.
Buying
Buying Citrine: fakes, value and treatments
What decides the price
A rich orange "Madeira" color is preferred. Citrine is affordable even in large sizes.
Where it is used
Large faceted citrines were fashionable in Art Deco jewelry.
A less familiar fact
Natural citrine is uncommon; most citrine on the market is Brazilian amethyst that has been heated.
Practical
Caring for Citrine
How to clean it
Warm soapy water. Keep out of prolonged sunlight, which fades it.
How to tell it is real
Most citrine on the market is heat-treated amethyst. The giveaway is color concentrated at the tip with a paler base; natural citrine is more evenly colored and smokier.
How hard is Citrine?
Citrine wears like any quartz and has no cleavage to split along, so a ring survives everyday knocks. The slow threat is prolonged sunlight, which pales the yellow.
Citrine, at 7, is harder than 28 of the other 42 stones here and softer than 9, with 5 level with it.
Traditional associations
Citrine is traditionally associated with enterprise, optimism and material momentum. Chakra in crystal practice: Solar Plexus. Element: Fire.
Questions about Citrine
What is Citrine made of?
Silicon dioxide (SiO₂) — quartz colored by iron, crystallizing in the trigonal system.
Which month is Citrine the birthstone for?
November.
Where does Citrine come from?
Brazil, Madagascar, Russia, Spain.
Can Citrine be worn every day?
Yes. It rates 7 on the Mohs scale, and the main thing to watch is prolonged sunlight, which pales the yellow.
Cite this page
AstroHot. “Citrine Crystals: Meaning, Hardness and Origins.” Accessed October 28, 2026. https://astrohot.com/crystals/gemstones/citrine/
For Wikipedia
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