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Citrine (reheated amethyst)
Main Deposits
This type of “citrino” usually comes from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Unique Pieces!
Available at Mineralogistas.comHemos localizado 2 ejemplares exclusivos de Citrine (reheated amethyst).
View Citrine (reheated amethyst) in the storeDescription and Characteristics
Natural citrine is an extremely rare variety of quartz found in nature. The vast majority of specimens currently available on the market, such as the one featured here, are in fact heat-treated amethyst quartz. Through a process of heating in high-temperature furnaces, the iron present in the amethyst alters its oxidation state, transforming the original purple colour into intense shades of yellow, orange or brown. Although mineralogically it is not classified as ‘natural citrine’, these specimens are highly aesthetic and are much prized in interior design and collecting for their lustre and warmth.
| Chemical Formula | $SiO2$ |
|---|---|
| Luster | Vitreous (Glassy) |
| Streak | White |
| Fracture | Conchoidal (Shell-like, typical of quartz) |
| Cleavage | None (Inexistent) |
| Hardness | 7 Mohs |
| Crystal System | Trigonal |
Did you know...?
It is one of the few instances in gemmology where a treated mineral is commercially accepted under another name. Almost all the ‘Citrine’ you see in souvenir shops is, in fact, amethyst that has been ‘heat-treated’. To achieve that toasty orange colour, miners heat the amethyst geodes to a temperature of between 450°C and 550°C. If the temperature is exceeded, the crystal could become milky or even shatter due to thermal shock.
New-Age Properties
Various industry publications and ancient traditions attribute symbolic properties (with no scientific basis) to it regarding:
Abundance and Success: Known as the ‘merchant’s stone’, it is associated with attracting wealth.
Solar Plexus Chakra: It is used in gem therapy to enhance willpower, joy and self-esteem.
Abundance and Success: Known as the ‘merchant’s stone’, it is associated with attracting wealth.
Solar Plexus Chakra: It is used in gem therapy to enhance willpower, joy and self-esteem.
Uses of Citrine (reheated amethyst)
Citrine is commonly sold in geodes, druses and costume jewellery, amongst other items.