difference between real citrine and heat treated amethyst

Going through the literature to learn about the causes of the greenish-yellow, yellow or orange color is leaving an impression that there are at least 2 different yellow quartz varieties, and at least 3 if you count heat treated amethyst. However, there seem to be at least 2 kinds of citrine that differ in the cause of the color and possibly in their inner structure (see 'Specific Properties'). If you checked different sources in books and in the Internet, the explanation for the yellow color that is almost exclusively given is: traces of iron. to call a quartz with finely distributed iron minerals, including heat-treated amethysts, a 'citrine'. I do this for reasons of consistency in the naming, but by gemologists' standards it is o.k.

Thus I use a different definition: Citrine is a transparent yellow quartz variety whose color is caused by colorizing agents that are built into the crystal lattice and whose color is not caused by inclusions of other minerals. On this web site, I do not call quartz citrine if it is yellow because of inclusions of iron oxide minerals, but ferruginous quartz or 'eisenkiesel'. I don't know if that is still common practice, but as far as I know the traders codex does not allow this anymore. In jewelery, faceted citrine used to be sold as 'gold topaz'. But when the crystal is illuminated from behind, its real color is revealed: a deep and homogeneously distributed yellow. When illuminated directly from the front, the crystal appears very dark and almost green. The two pictures to the right show a citrine crystal from Hasawarka, Russia. Natural citrine is very rare, in fact almost all the material offered on the market under that name is not natural citrine, but heat treated amethyst. They are also known to assist with professional success and obtaining abundance.Citrine is a transparent, yellow macrocrystalline quartz variety. Mentally: Both varieties of Citrine aid communication skills. They also ease headaches and migraines and aid with spinal health. They are supportive of the digestive and elimination organs, as well as the metabolism, making them good choices for those trying to lose weight. Physically: Citrine (both varieties) are good for increasing energy. Most of the natural Citrine I have seen has been in crystal point form, is rather expensive and has a slightly different shade of yellow. In my experience, Citrine tumble stones are almost always Amethyst as well as those orange-yellow clusters that look suspiciously like an Amethyst Cluster. Also, I have found that many people who are new to crystals are unaware that the pretty yellow stones labeled Citrine in the crystal shops are very often actually Amethyst and when looking up Citrine’s properties, many people are actually seeking information about their heat-treated Amethyst. I have decided to combine heat-treated Amethyst and true Citrine into one article because, although I do feel a bit of a difference in their energies, the properties and healing benefits and largely the same. I have come to realize that heat-treated stones may have some different properties than the originals due to vibrations of their new coloring, but that they are still just as powerful for healing. And yet, I was still drawn to this pale and sparkly yellow stone. Something “man-made” just did not seem that it should work in the same way as a natural crystal.

I found out later it was heat-treated Amethyst. Citrine was one of the first stones I was introduced to by a crystal healer.

Difference between real citrine and heat treated amethyst