|
Citrine Rings
Citrine is any quartz crystal or cluster that is yellow or orange
in color, and was named for the French word for lemon.."citron". Found in its natural
state it is often cut as a gemstone, but natural Citrine is actually rare. Most of the Citrine
found on the market today is simply Amethyst which has been heat treated. (Amethyst will turn yellow when heated at high temperatures
between 878 and 1,040ºF, or 470 and 560ºC).
Citrines produced by artificial means (heat treated) tend
to have more of an orange or reddish tint than those found in nature, which are usually a pale yellow. One
exception to this rule is the darker colored natural Citrine called Madeira Citrine, named for its color's resemblance to
Madeira wines. Madeira Citrine is generally more valuable than the lighter yellow Citrines. Much of natural Citrine may also have started out as Amethyst but heat from nearby magmatic
bodies in the Earth's crust caused the change to Citrine. A popular gemstone on the market
today is a mixture of half Amethyst and half Citrine, called Ametrine. Citrine is often confused with orange or yellow
Topaz, but Topaz is a totally different mineral of Aluminum silicate fluoride hydroxide (Al2 SiO2 (F,OH)3). Citrine, though one of the most valuable forms of Quartz, is only one of several Quartz varieties. Other varieties that form macroscopic (large enough to see) crystals are: Amethyst,
Rock Crystal (clear Quartz), Rose Quartz, and Smoky Quartz. Citrine is the secondary birthstone for November; Topaz being
the primary.
|
|
|
| Click on photo to enlarge in new window. |
|
Elegant 6x8 oval cab that I set with a silver flower accent and mounted on a size 6 fancy handmade size 6 split shank
ring.
|
$40.00
Sold!
|
|
