Thursday, April 19, 2007


Citrine, the golden sister of the Quartz family is the rarest of these energetic crystalline siblings. Quartz may be the most plentiful mineral on the planet, however this sunny variety has been elusive and the exploited victim of greedy gem dealers.

Amethyst is Citrine's fraternal twin. These two Quartz crystals are almost identical, in the way they crystallize and their chemical composition. Both began as the result of either volcanic or hydrothermal activity. Both form six sided pyramidal crystals and are fond of twinning (multiple terminations on the same crystal). Both grow in geodes and pegmatites or form as druzy crusts on other rocks.

One small difference separates these two crystals, oxidized or non oxidized Iron (rusted or not). The Iron content in Amethyst is not oxidized, the Iron in Citrine is.

Many geologist believe that some natural Citrine may have actually begun its life as Amethyst. Because of geological events that created great heat, oxidizing the Iron, they became Citrines. In fact, nature is also able to reverse the process via natural irradiation (radioactive material decomposing in the vicinity of the crystals). Turning the Citrines back into Amethyst. Perhaps the strongest proof of this crystal morphing is the Ametrine. A zoned Quartz crystal with distinctive areas of purple and gold.

Natural Citrine occurs in a range golden rays, from a pale lemon yellow to a dark root beer brown. The most sought after color for jewelry settings is the "madeira" Citrine, followed by darker, more topaz colored gemstones. However, their rarity means that a large percentage of Citrine in jewelry is heat treated Amethyst, which gives the gem the coveted orange to red colors. Smoky Quartz can be heat treated to create a lighter yellow Citrine.

Brazil has the richest deposits of Citrine, and (so far) is the only place where Ametrine has been found. The Ural Mountains in Russia, Spain, France and Madagascar also produce some high quality marketable crystals. Some of the earliest gems on the markets in old Europe were mined in Dauphine, Hungary and Croatia.

Citrine comes from a French word, citron which means lemon. In many ancient texts Heliodors a yellow Beryl, Zircon and other yellow gemstones were commonly referred to as Citrines. Sometime in the mid-1500s, the name was exclusively assigned to the golden Quartz we know today.

Capitalizing on this lack of clarity unscrupulous gem dealers were passing off dark orange Citrines (or worse, heat treated Amethyst) as more expensive Topaz. For centuries confused consumers were duped by names like Spanish Topaz, Saxon Topaz, Topaz Quartz and Madeira Topaz. All tricky trade names for a gem that can stand on her own merit, the Citrine. Eventually dealers discontinued the practice as consumers became smarter and the actual demand for Citrine rose. Though a few of the old names still linger.

In the dark ages of Europe, Citrine was extremely rare and available only to the very rich. During the Plague the rich were able to avoid the ravages of the disease by staying off the infested streets. Safe in their manors and on self-sustaining estates, they came to believe that gems like Citrine were protecting them from the illness.

The crystal was also used to prevent snakes from biting and to shield one from the evil intentions of another. Citrine's reputation for enhancing psychic skills was recognized early on. Elders in some ancient traditions would place a gem on their third eye when meditating on their tribe's/clan's/family's future.

As a member of the Quartz family, Citrine can assist you on several different levels. In business or finances, use this crystal to both attract money into your life and to help you maintain your wealth. If you are a business owner, place a gem or crystal where money flows into your business (the cash register, your desk, computer etc.). For home finances, place one near your front door, or in the heart of your home (kitchen, family room, where you spend most of your time).

In meditation, a terminated Citrine crystal is excellent for helping to open and activate the Crown Chakra. Its bright light will illuminate ideas and solutions that you could not see or comprehend before. You'll learn to be more trusting of your intuition and to better understand the messages received from your inner voices, guides and angels.

If you struggle with self doubt, depression or simply can't get motivated to start your next project, allow the Citrine gemstone to join you as a companion. This crystal carries with it a joyful spirit that embraces life. You will find it much harder to despair around this bright gem spirit. Its fiery energies will spur you into action and inspire new confidence to join in all that living has to offer.

You will find courage with your Citrine friend. As your confidence grows, obstacles and barriers that you built (or created in your mind) will melt away. Allowing you to bravely face new adventures and challenges.

Citrine has a powerful influence on the Solar Plexus (3rd) Chakra, which also where our fear radiates from. As it cleanses and clears this lower chakra, it pushes out your fears allowing you to release them.

Do you suffer from nightmares, or know a child that does? Sleeping with a Citrine protects you from these dream demons. Using the crystal in a special meditation on your Solar Plexus will help you to safely identify the true source of these frightening dreams. Once your are able to identify your demon, you can face it, defeat it. and bring an end to your bad dreams.

This gem's influence on the Third Chakra makes it a healthy aid in resolving digestive or eating disorders. Citrine may assist the body in absorbing nutrients so that you can make full use of everything you eat. The kidneys, spleen, pancreas and urinary tract could also benefit from the health influences of this sunny gem.

Healers have also utilized Citrine to slow the formation of growths (tumors, moles etc.), improve blood circulation, assist in the regeneration of body tissue and to relieve the symptoms of diabetes in its earliest stages.

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