Citrine has attracted much attention in the jewelry industry for its unique charm, and the original Citrine is showing the natural beauty of the uncarved. Understanding what the raw Citrine looks like is of great importance to jewelry lovers, practitioners and geological researchers. It can help us better identify the authenticity and quality of Citrine, deeply explore its formation process and geological background, and also provide an endless source of inspiration for jewelry design and creation.
Crystal morphology
A common hexagonal column
The most typical crystal form of primitive Citrine is hexagonal column. It is like a straight column, with six smooth and regular sides and fixed and even angles between each other. This unique hexagonal columnar structure is the signature feature of the quartz family to which Citrine belongs. In some natural veins, we can often see citrine in this form of growth, they or stand alone, or a number of roots clustered together, like a natural crystal forest. Each hexagonal columnar citrine crystal has a unique symmetry, observed from different angles, can feel its regular beauty.
For example, in some Citrine mining areas in Brazil, a large number of hexagonal columnar primitive Citrine crystals have been mined, their length and thickness are different, but they all maintain this basic morphological characteristics, which makes people sigh at the uncanny workmanship of nature.
Cluster morphology
In addition to individual hexagonal columnar crystals, primordial Citrine often comes in the form of clusters. Clusters are made up of numerous Citrine crystals growing from a common substrate, which are interlaced and superimposed.
These crystals vary widely in size in the clusters, some as short as a grain of rice, others as slender as a sharp needle. The overall shape of the crystal cluster is also varied, some like blooming flowers, petals are composed of a Citrine crystal; Some are like dense bushes, with dense crystals that dazzle people.
In the Citrine producing area of Uruguay, the original Citrine in the form of crystal clusters is more common, they are excavated, after simple cleaning and finishing, they can become a mineral specimen of great ornamental value, placed in the museum or collector’s showcase, showing the unique growth charm of Citrine.
Color presentation
Light to dark yellow tones
The color range of the original Citrine is wide, ranging from a pale pale yellow to a rich deep yellow. The original yellow Citrine looks fresh and elegant, just like the budding buds in spring, giving people a soft and peaceful feeling.
The deep yellow Citrine is full of vitality and enthusiasm, its color is rich and mellow, like the golden autumn sunshine, bright and dazzling. This difference in color is mainly caused by the different content of iron inside the Citrine.
For example, some of the original Citrine produced in Madagascar is relatively light in color, mostly light yellow or light orange-yellow; The Citrine in some parts of Brazil is mainly dark yellow, and the color saturation is extremely high, which is favored in the market.
Uneven color distribution
The color of the original Citrine is not evenly distributed throughout the crystal. Usually, we can see areas of different shades of color, some places are darker, forming a clear ribbon or stain, and some places are lighter. This uneven color distribution is due to the fact that during the growth of toprystal, the geological environment is not completely consistent, resulting in differences in the distribution of chromic impurities such as iron elements in the crystal.
When observing a piece of original Citrine, we can find that from the center of the crystal to the edge, the color may gradually become lighter or darker, and this naturally formed color change feature is also one of the important bases for identifying the authenticity of the original Citrine. For example, some natural original Citrine in the light, the color band will be more obvious, showing a unique sense of layer, and artificially treated Citrine is often too uniform color, lack of this natural change.
Transparency and gloss
Different transparency
The transparency of the original Citrine is quite different. Some of the high-quality original Citrine is extremely transparent, and light can penetrate the crystal without hindrance, making it look crystal clear, like pure glass. Such Citrine can reflect brilliant brilliance under the light, showing the purity and beauty of its interior.
However, there are also some primitive Citrine that have relatively low transparency and may appear translucent or even opaque. This may be due to the presence of more tiny inclusions or other impurities inside the crystal, which affect the propagation of light. For example, some of the original Citrine containing more gas-liquid inclusions will look slightly hazy, but its unique interior landscape also adds a mysterious charm.
glazing
The original Citrine has a typical glass luster. When the light hits the surface of the Citrine crystal, it reflects a bright and sharp light, just like the glass surface reflects light. This glass luster makes the original Citrine stand out among many minerals, and even in the state of unpolished processing, it can show its noble temperament.
Whether in natural light or under the irradiation of artificial light sources, the glass luster of the original Citrine can add a lot of color to it, making it look more brilliant. In some sunny places, such as the Citrine mining area, we can see the original Citrine crystal shining brightly in the sun, as if it were a gem set in the earth by nature.
Internal inclusion
Mineral inclusions are common
Primitive Citrine often contains various mineral inclusions. These inclusions are encased in the crystals during the growth of Citrine, interacting with other surrounding minerals. Common mineral inclusions are mica, tourmaline, rutile and so on.
The mica sheet inclusions usually appear as flakes or scales, and pieces of silver or gold flash can be seen inside the Citrine crystal, like stars; Tourmaline inclusions may appear columnar or needle-like, with a variety of colors, adding a different color to the Citrine; The rutile inclusions are generally small needle-like, and they are oriented inside the Citrine, sometimes forming unique patterns or textures.
The existence of these mineral inclusions not only adds rich color and texture to the inner world of the original Citrine, but also provides important clues for the study of the formation environment and geological history of Citrine.
The gas-liquid inclusions are diverse
In addition to mineral inclusions, gas-liquid inclusions may also exist in primitive Citrine. Gas-liquid inclusions are formed due to the change of environmental factors such as temperature and pressure during the growth of Citrine, which leads to some gases and liquids being wrapped inside the crystal.
These inclusions vary in shape, some are round or oval bubbles, some are irregular droplets, and some are clouds of mixed gas and liquid. Looking under a microscope, we can see the boundaries of the gas and liquid inside the gas-liquid inclusion, and how they are distributed inside the crystal.
The presence of gas-liquid inclusions will affect the transparency and optical properties of the original Citrine, but it also gives it a unique hazy beauty and mystery. For example, some primitive Citrine containing large amounts of gas-liquid inclusions will have a soft halo effect in the light, like moonlight on a cloud.
Surface feature
Natural weathering mark
Because the original Citrine is exposed to the natural environment for a long time, its surface often leaves some traces of weathering. These marks appear as slight wear, bumps, or small cracks. In the process of Citrine mining, we can see that the surface of the original Citrine crystal excavated from the ground may have some scratches caused by soil and rock friction, or small cracks caused by geological movement.
Although these weathering traces have affected the appearance of Citrine to a certain extent, they are also proof of its natural formation. For example, the original Citrine found in some ancient citrine veins has more visible traces of weathering on its surface, as if to tell the story of their long years on Earth.
Relation to surrounding rock
When primordial Citrine grows in a vein, it is usually closely linked to the surrounding surrounding rock. After mining out, we can see that the Citrine crystal surface may be attached to some debris or particles of surrounding rock. The composition and color of these surrounding rocks are different, some are gray rock, some are white quartzite and so on.
Citrine and surrounding rock are also connected in a variety of ways, some are closely embedded together, and some are connected through some small mineral veins. Observing the relationship between Citrine and surrounding rock can help us understand its growing environment and geological background. For example, Citrine growing in some specific surrounding rock environment may have unique color or internal inclusion characteristics, which is of great significance for studying the origin and formation mechanism of Citrine.
Conclusion
The original Citrine has unique crystal morphology, including hexagonal columnar and crystalline cluster. Color from light yellow to dark yellow and uneven distribution; Transparency and gloss have their own characteristics; The interior contains mineral inclusions and gas liquid inclusions. The surface has natural weathering traces and is associated with surrounding rock. These characteristics together constitute the unique charm of the original Citrine, whether it is for jewelry processing, mineral collection or geological research, are of great value. Understanding the appearance of the original Citrine helps us to better identify, appreciate and utilize this beautiful natural gem resource.
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