FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[VTinNorthAB]

I’m posting on behalf of my 7 year old lol. She chose this special mineral out of a box of “unlabeled miscellaneous” (for kids) at a local rock, gem and mineral show. She thinks it’s citrine which I agree with her but it has other “special” features she wants help with like black inclusions in the crystals. My thoughts lean towards untreated citrine but who knows haha. She loves it and just wants to make a special label for this one like all her other special ones.

Sorry in advance, I tried to take as clear photos as possible.

[Michael Shaw]

By definition, citrine is yellow or yellow-orange quartz, so I wouldn't call this citrine. Natural citrine is relatively uncommon. Citrine specimens from Brazil are actually heat-treated amethyst.

There are a few small areas of orange-tinted crystals which are most likely from iron staining. The photos are not sharp enough to see the black inclusions, but they could be hematite, an iron oxide.

Do you know the locality this is from? This information can be very helpful in knowing what you have.