Citrine raw stone, as the source material of citrine finished products, has its unique appearance characteristics. For jewelry practitioners, enthusiasts and investors, understanding the appearance of the real citrine raw stone helps to provide an important basis for purchasing the raw stone, identifying the authenticity and in-depth study of the formation process of citrine.
Crystal shape
A common hexagonal column
Citrine usually presents a hexagonal columnar crystal shape, which is typical of crystals of the quartz family. The column body is more regular, the six sides are relatively flat and smooth, and the edge is clear. This shape is formed in the long geological formation process of citrine, due to the orderly arrangement of the internal atomic structure and the joint action of the external geological environment. For example, in some Brazilian citrine veins, it is often found that this beautiful hexagonal pillar rough stone, some of them grow alone, some are gathered together in clusters, like natural crystal art.
Cluster morphology
In addition to individual hexagonal columnar crystals, citrine is often present in the form of crystal clusters. Crystal clusters are composed of multiple citrine crystals growing from a common substrate, interleaving and arranging each other. These crystals vary in size in the clusters, some short and stout, others slender and sharp. The shape of the crystal cluster is different, some like blooming flowers, some like a dense forest, very ornamental. In some mining areas of Uruguay, there are a large number of yellow water crystal clusters are mined, they are not only a high-quality material for making jewelry, but also many mineral collectors dream of treasures.
Color feature
A range of pale yellow to dark yellow tones
True citrine raw stones range in color from elegant pale yellow to rich deep yellow. The depth of the color is mainly determined by the concentration of iron in the raw stone and the influence of other trace elements. The yellow citrine raw stone looks fresh and natural, as soft as the sunshine of early spring; The deep yellow raw stone is more visual impact, the color is full and mellow, as if condensed the essence of the color of autumn. For example, some citrine rough stones in Madagascar show a lighter yellow color, while rough stones in parts of Brazil are mostly dark yellow.
Uneven color distribution
The color of citrine is not evenly distributed within the crystal. There are usually areas of different shades of color, some places are thicker, forming bands or spots, and some places are relatively light. This uneven color distribution is due to the uneven distribution of impurities such as iron elements caused by small changes in the geological environment during the growth of the raw stone. When observing a citrine raw stone, it can often be seen that the color gradually changes from the center of the crystal to the edge, which is also an important feature to identify its authenticity.
Transparency and gloss
Varying degrees of transparency
There are some differences in the transparency of citrine raw stone. Some high-quality raw stone transparency is higher, you can clearly see the internal structure and inclusions of the crystal, the light can penetrate the crystal more smoothly, so that the raw stone shows a crystal clear texture. Other rough stones may be less transparent and appear slightly hazy, which may be due to the presence of more tiny inclusions or a less perfect crystal structure. However, even the citrine raw stone with lower transparency can still show its unique luster and color charm under the light.
The appearance of glass luster
Citrine raw stone has a typical glass luster. When the light shines on the surface of the raw stone, it will reflect a bright and sharp light, similar to the reflective effect of glass. This luster makes citrine stand out among many minerals, and even in the state of unpolished processing, it can show its noble temperament. Whether under natural light or under the irradiation of artificial light sources, the glass luster of citrine raw stone can add a bright luster to it, which makes people fascinated by it.
Internal inclusion
Common mineral inclusions
Citrine often contains some mineral inclusions inside the citrine, which is the result of its interaction with other surrounding minerals during geological formation. Common mineral inclusions are mica, tourmaline, rutile and so on. These inclusions exist in different forms inside citrine crystals, some of them are small needle-like, such as rutile inclusions; Some are flake or block, such as mica sheet inclusions. Their existence not only adds a natural charm to citrine primitive stone, but also provides important clues for the study of its formation environment.
Gas-liquid inclusions
In addition to mineral inclusions, gas-liquid inclusions may also exist in citrine. These inclusions are formed in the crystal growth process due to changes in temperature, pressure and other environmental factors, resulting in some gases and liquids being wrapped in the crystal. The gas-liquid inclusions usually have a round or oval shape, and the bubbles and liquids in them can be seen under a microscope. Their existence will affect the transparency and optical effect of citrine raw stone, but at the same time, it also adds a unique ornamental value, and some citrine raw stone containing exquisite gas-liquid inclusions is quite popular in the collection market.
Surface feature
Natural traces of weathering
Due to long-term exposure to the natural environment, the surface of citrine raw stone often leaves some traces of weathering. These marks appear as slight wear, bumps, or some small cracks. The degree of weathering traces varies according to the geological environment and mining method of the raw stone. For example, rough stones mined in some shallow layers of the surface may have relatively heavy weathering marks; Rough rock extracted from deep veins may have a relatively smooth surface.
Adhesion to surrounding rock
When citrine grows in the veins, it is often attached to the surrounding surrounding rock. After mining out, there may still be some debris or particles of surrounding rock on the surface of the raw stone. The composition and color of these surrounding rocks are different, in sharp contrast to citrine raw stone. By observing the adhesion of raw stone to surrounding rock, we can understand its growth state and geological environment in the vein, and also help to identify the origin and authenticity of raw stone.
Conclusion
The real citrine raw stone has a unique crystal shape, the color is from light yellow to dark yellow and the distribution is uneven, the transparency and luster are different, the interior contains a variety of inclusions, the surface has natural weathering traces and may be attached to the surrounding rock. These features together constitute the unique charm of citrine raw stone, whether it is for jewelry processing, collection or geological research, in-depth understanding of its appearance is of great significance.
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