Citrine

History
Although it has been around as long as amethyst, citrine is much less well known. Used by ancient Romans as intaglio pieces, and frequently cut en cabochon, citrine has been around a long time, but is mentioned infrequently, as it was seldom found.

Features
A member of the quartz family, citrine has a familiar six sided crystal shape with one end terminating in a point, while the other end is frequently unfinished, or broken. Citrines vary in color from a pale straw yellow to a deep amber, bordering on golden brown. Citrines are frequently flawless, but can also be found with distinctive color zoning, small inclusions, and rutile needles.

Treatments
Naturally occurring citrine is somewhat rare, and much of the citrine found on the market today is actually amethyst that has been heat treated. Heat treating of amethyst may produce citrine of rich or poor color, as well as greenish colored stones.

Principal Deposits
Citrine can be found in Brazil, Colombia, the US, Russia, Africa and Canada.

Rarity
Naturally occurring citrine of good consistent color which is totally transparent is moderately rare, as most commercially available stones are the result of heating amethyst.