Gemstones Glossary

More gem stone info and resources


See contemporary designer jewelry in gold and silver with gemstones.

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Gems

Agate(s)
Amazonite
Amber
Amethyst
Ammolite
Ammonite
Aquamarine
Aventurine
Azurite-Malachite
Beryl
Bloodstone
Blue Opal
Bone
Boulder Opal
Carnelian
Chalcedony
Charoite
Chinese Writing Stone
Chrysocolla
Chrysoprase
Citrine
Dinosaur Bone
Drusy
Emerald
Garnet
Gaspeite
Gibeon Meteorite
Hematite
Jade
Jasper
Kono Dolomite
Labradorite
Lapis Lazuli
Larimar
Malachite
Meteorite
Montana Agate
Moonstone
Morgan Hill Poppy Jasper
Onyx
Opal
Opalite
Orthoceras
Palm Wood
Pearl
Pectolite
Peridot
Peruvian Opal
Petoskey Stone
Picasso Marble
Poppy Jasper
Quantum Quattro
Rhodochrosite
Ruby in Zoisite
Rutilated Quartz
Sapphire
Spectrolite
Stone Canyon Jasper
Sugilite
Tanzanite
Tiffany Stone
Tiger's Eye
Topaz
Tourmaline
Turquoise
Variscite
 

 

 

Citrine Facts, Information and Description

citrine pendant     See citrine jewelry

The gemstone Citrine is the official birthstone for the month of November as adopted by the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912. It is also the Planetary stone for the Sun Sign of Virgo and the accepted gem for the 13th and 17th wedding anniversary. See the birthstone tables for additional references to this stone or citrine jewelry.

Citrine is a variety of quartz ranging in colors of yellow, yellow-brown, orange, dark orange-brown, reddish-brown. Citrine crystals can form together with amethyst or smoky quartz to form a bi-colored quartz called ametrine.

Almost all citrine that is available on the market today is heat-treated amethyst. Natural citrine is pale yellow to pale orange, much lighter than the heat-treated material which is dark orange-brown to reddish-brown. All of the heat-treated material has a red tint, while natural citrine does not.

Some amethyst deposits have been found where the amethyst was changed naturally by high temperatures to brown citrine.

Most citrine comes from Brazil, but almost all of the Brazilian material is heat-treated amethyst. Natural citrine can also be found in the Ural Mountains of Russia, in Dauphine, France, and in Madagascar. The inexpensive low grade amethyst is heated at high temperatures to produce the popular orange, reddish and sherry colored citrine. Darker colors are considered more valuable, including the medium golden orange and dark sherry-colors.

Citrine may be mistaken for the more expensive orangish-yellow topaz and, at times, may be sold as topaz by dishonest gemstone vendors. Due to this, citrine buyers are sometimes suspicious of any citrine and think it may actually be fake topaz.

Citrine is a 7.0 on the Mohs scale of hardness.

 

 

Faceted Citrines

see other November birthstones
 
Citrine rough

Folklore, Legend, and Healing Properties:

Citrine is believed to help the heart, kidney, digestive tract, liver and muscles. It promotes creativity, helps personal clarity and eliminates self-destructive tendencies.

Citrine Jewelry

earringsDesigner jewelry made with citrine.  A selection of free form cabochons and rough available for custom jewelry designs.

 

The birthstone citrine plus citrine jewelry listed by type.

Citrine is also listed as a birth/natal or star stone in the following birthstone tables:

Modern - November
Traditional - November
Planetary - Virgo

 


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Sources of Information:
The Curious Lore of Precious Stones
by G.F. Kunz. J.D. Lippincott. 1913
The Mineral Gallery http://mineral.galleries.com/
The Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom http://www.minerals.net/
International Colored Gemstone Association http://gemstone.org/
National Audubon Society Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals Alfed A. Knopf 1979
Stones - Their Collection, Identification and Uses by R. V. Dietrich. Geoscience Press. 1980
Guide to Gems and Precious Stones Simon & Schuster 1986
Gemstones of the World by Walter Schumann. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.
Gems and Jewelry by Joel E. Arem. Geoscience Press. 1992
Gems in Myth, Legend, and Lore by Bruce G. Knuth. Jeweler's Press 1999
Healing Crystals by Cassandra Eason. Vega 2003