Citrine vs Amber
Citrine and Amber are easy to confuse. Here’s how they stack up on the properties that actually separate them.
| Citrine | Amber | |
|---|---|---|
| Also known as | Quartz (Quartz family) | — |
| Colour | Yellow, Orange, Green, Red | Yellow, Orange, Brown |
| Mohs hardness | 7 | — |
| Lustre | Vitreous | — |
| Streak | White | — |
| Crystal system | Trigonal | — |
| Transparency | Transparent to translucent | — |
| Cleavage | None | — |
| Fracture | Conchoidal | — |
| Chemical formula | Silica (silicon dioxide, SiO) | — |
| Specific gravity | 2.65 | — |
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Frequently asked questions
What's the easiest way to tell Citrine from Amber?
Compare lustre, streak and crystal habit side by side — colour alone won't settle it.