Difference Between Yellow Topaz and Citrine

Crystal jewelry, transparent and rife with vitality, is definitely up to date in hot summer seasons. Yellow topaz, which is noble and spiritual in nature, occupies an irreplaceable place of people at heart. But it is sometimes hard to differentiate citrine and yellow topaz. This frequently causes the circumstances when individuals are unable to get what they anticipate of citrine or attain the splendor of the yellow topaz.

We shall examine the ability to differentiate between yellow topaz and citrine and what makes them different.

Various Chemical Composition.
Citrine: SiO 2 (silicon dioxide) is the major chemical composition of citrine with a Si content of 46.7 and O content of 53.3. The inclusions give the different colors used. Iron (Fe2+) ions (as well as titanium (Ti4+)) is what gives purple and green citrine their color. Color centres create other colors.

Yellow Topaz: The chemical structure of yellow topaz is Al 2 SiO 4(F,OH) 2. It can have trace elements such as lithium (Li), beryllium (Be) and gallium (Ga). It is biaxial, orthorhombic crystal system and has positive optical properties. These are common colors such as colorless, light blue, blue, yellow, pink, reddish-brown and green. It is transparent and extremely shiny.

Different Hardness
Citrine: Citrine is 7 on the Mohs scale which is very similar to the hardness of a steel file.
Yellow Topaz: Yellow topaz is also harder than citrine and it has a Mohs hardness of 8.

Light Reflection Difference.
The yellow topaz has a higher light reflection as compared to citrine that has a relatively lower light reflection.

Difference in Density
Yellow Topaz: Yellow topaz has the density of approximately 3.53 g/cm3.
Citrine: Citrine weighs 2.66g/cm 3.

Consequently, both yellow topaz and citrine will weigh different when the two are compared at the same size. You will know it only too well by feeling them in your hand.

Crystal System Difference
Citrine: Citrine is a member of trigonal crystal structure and is usually characterized by horizontal striations on the surface.
Yellow topaz: Yellow topaz is of the orthorhombic crystal system, biaxial and has positive optical characteristics. It typically develops in columnar forms by having vertical striations on the sides.

The difference between Yellow topaz and Citrine.
Citrine has been mistakenly taken as yellow topaz as the two look alike. Citrine can be substituted with yellow topaz in jewelry. To differentiate the two, the following points need to be remembered:

Weight: Yellow topaz will make the hand feel heavier, and create the impression of weightiness, where citrine will not.

Light: Citrine reflect cooler light whereas yellow topaz reflect a warmer and softer light.