28 September 2022
One of the most desirable gemstones, a citrine, is a semi-precious stone with a colour that ranges from pale yellow to deep orange. Its pale-yellow color is why the name, Citrine comes from a French citron, which means lemon. Besides its actual meaning, Citrine also has a deep spiritual meaning.
Just like a refreshing lemonade glass, Citrine’s yellow hues can bring spiritual qualities of joy, abundance, and transformation. So, what is Citrine? Citrine is a yellow variety of quartz, making it a cousin of the purple gemstone amethyst. They are considered one of the most precious members of the quartz family because quartz crystals are common, and Citrine is quite rare.
Jewellery carved out from Citrine is an excellent addition to your collection because of its pop of color, and its rich earth tones will complement most outfits. If you are wondering, how hard is Citrine? Having a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, citrine is durable and resistant to scratches. Citrine has very good toughness, so it won’t chip or break easily.
Original citrine stone can be quite difficult to find in nature. They are very rarely found but have the same formation process as that of other quartz stones, given that Citrine is a member of the quartz family. The quartz crystal hardens when silicon and oxygen atoms bind together.
Most natural Citrine is found to be light yellow in color, but with a relatively low-temperature change, those light-yellow stones can yield a golden yellow hue. However, most citrine stones found in the market today are produced by treating stones like amethyst and smoky quartz with heat. Since citrine crystals are formed when amethyst undergoes a heating process, they are sometimes called burnt amethyst.
This semi-precious gemstone can be categorized into two major types. The difference between the two of them is based on how they are formed. Let’s take a closer look at both of them individually to better understand.
Also, Citrine is only found naturally in a few places around the entire world. They form when amethyst or smoky quartz is superheated in the earth’s mantle. Over time, these superheated stones become Citrine.
The formation process includes heating a piece of amethyst or smoky crystal for around 900 degrees in a kiln, so it is not natural but rather mimics the natural process inside the earth’s mantle by producing Citrine in a laboratory.
When we talk about the formation of citrine stone, the major types of stone are formulated into two types, namely natural and heat-treated. On the other hand, types of Citrine are also grouped according to the types of specimens available; let’s break down some of the most popular types.
Naturally occurring citrines have previously been found all over the world, although it’s quite rare these days. They have been discovered in places such as the Ural Mountains Of Russia, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, etc.
While most of the commercial Citrine found in the market today is a result of lab-treated amethyst and quartz that are mined in Brazil and Uruguay. Other countries where Citrine has been produced include Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, Russia, and Spain.
Citrine has been associated with positivity and optimism, which is not at all surprising given its cheerful color. It is mostly used to assist in manifesting financial abundance and opportunities. Moreover, it also helps in cultivating confidence and personal power by awakening the solar plexus chakra. Therefore, wearing Citrine is something that anybody can do that serves as an excellent fix to help unblock chakras, boost one’s immune system, and manifest their best version.
