Our regular column “Stone mascot of the month" is devoted to the September citrine.
Citrine is the 'sun stone' that brings good fortune and is endowed not only with unique hue, hence with the miraculous properties as well. Since ancient times, citrine has been believed to have magical qualities. This stone is mesmerizing, giving the wearer charm and appeal.

The themed photo album "Citrine – one of the September stones mascots" is posted in the museum Photo Gallery.

The stone got its name from its "citrus" colour. In Latin, "citrus" means "lemon". Citrus means 'lemon' in Latin. There is also a version of the French origin of the mineral name: "citron", which is translated as "lemon".

Citrine is a transparent, lustrous stone, a type of quartz. The crystal has a rich palette of yellow shades, ranging from pale lemon to deep orange. Citrine owes its colour saturation to the impurities of iron that got into the gemstone lattice when it was formed. Citrine can be created by heat-treating amethyst or smoky quartz. These refined gems have lemon, orange, wine, honey, gold, amber or yellow-brown hues. Depending on the shade and method of production, ‘sun stone’ comes in several varieties.
– Pale yellow shade is the natural colour of the stone. This citrine is found in the Urals, Madagascar, Spain, Brazil and also in France.
– Goldish yellow minerals are most commonly found in Volodarsk-Volynskyi (Ukraine) deposit. The goldish colour of citrine is the result of treating smoky crystals at 300°C.
– Stones of honey-coloured and bright orange hues are particularly valued. They resemble a noted wine, that is why they are appropriately named 'Madera'. The bright, saturated colours are obtained by the heat treatment of quartz.
– Citrine, which has a greenish-yellow colour, is not highly valued for jewellers since it loses its colouring due to prolonged exposure to daylight and temperature changes.

The mineral is formed in sedimentary rocks, where it is deposited as transparent crystals. In nature, citrine occurs less frequently than other varieties of quartz. The main deposits of citrine are discovered in Brazil, in Bahia, Goiás and Minas Gerais. Other nuggets are mined in Madagascar, Colorado, Spain, India and France. Small deposits of citrine have been found in Argentina, Myanmar, Scotland and Namibia. Spanish citrines stand out for their incredible trick of the light. The lustre of these minerals is almost equal to that of topaz. Spanish citrines are completely transparent but have a distinctive colour. Citrine can also be found in the Urals and Kazakhstan. Gemstones from these deposits are distinguished by their marvellous wine-yellow hues.

The ancient Romans and Greeks considered citrine a talisman for scientists, philosophers and masters of rhetoric. The stone was assessed as having the power to evoke eloquence and bring public acclaim. Citrine was not acknowledged as an independent mineral until the mid-18^th century, when Swedish mineralogist Johann Wallerius (1709-1785) classified the lemon-coloured variety of quartz as a separate species and gave it the name. Prior to Wallerius, citrine was mistaken for topaz since those two minerals cannot be physically distinguished. The difference lies in their physical characteristics: topaz is harder and denser than quartz.

People believe that this stone has magical and healing properties. Its yellow colour is often associated and linked with the vital energy of the Sun. It is believed that a person that constantly wears citrine jewellery receives special patronage and protection from the Sun. In addition to this, esotericists also link the colour with the planet Mercury, which is regarded as the protector of merchants and travellers from time immemorial.
Citrine stimulates the development of creativity, helps to get rid of moping and depression. It promotes business contacts and facilitates successful negotiations with partners. If one wants to learn to speak beautifully, he should wear citrine.
Citrine is considered a stone for business persons and entrepreneurs, attracting wealth and success and sharpening intuition. The planet Mercury patronizes it. The mineral is attributed with the ability to raise the self-esteem of the wearer and add self-confidence. The ‘sun’ mineral also helps in case of loss of vitality and inanition. Citrine is believed to be able to prevent the development and alleviate the course of allergic reactions.
Citrine is also known as the 'gem of merchants'. There is a belief that it attracts money and prosperity, and if you carry the stone in your pocket, it will not only increase your wealth, but also keep it for a long time.

On the cover: Young bear with agate ball. Manfred Wild, Emile Becker firm. Germany, Idar-Oberstein. The 20th century