Our next post under the heading "Stone mascot of the Month" is about the March citrine.
Citrine is the 'sun stone' that brings good fortune and is endowed not only with unique hue but with miraculous properties as well. Since ancient times, citrine has been believed to have magical properties. This stone is mesmerizing, giving the wearer charm and appeal.

A new themed photo album "Citrine – one of the March 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 iron impurities that got into the gemstone lattice when it was formed. Citrine can be created by heat-treating amethysts and 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.
- A pale yellow shade is the natural colour of the stone. This citrine is found in the Urals, Madagascar, Spain, Brazil and also in France.
- Golden-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 well-known wine, that is why they are appropriately named 'Madera'. The bright, saturated colours are obtained by heat treatment of quartz.
- Citrine, which has a greenish-yellow colour, is not highly valued for jewellery since it loses its colouring with 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 play of 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 hue.

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

Many 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 travelers from time immemorial.
Citrine stimulates the development of creativity, helps to get rid of moping and depression. It promotes business contacts and successful negotiations with partners. If one wants to learn to speak beautifully, he should wear citrine.
Citrine is considered a stone for businesspersons 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: Bear on a log. Alfred Zimmerman. Germany, Idar-Oberstein. The 20th century

Ref.: online Encyclopedia https://sitekid.ru/planeta_zemlya/dragocennye_kamni/citrin.html
https://kamen.expert/prirodnye-kamni/tsitrin
https://kamen.expert/prirodnye-kamni/tsitrin