Lemon Quartz
Lemon quartz gemstones, with their vibrant yellow hues reminiscent of the sun’s warmth, stand out in the world of gemstones. Often overlooked compared to more famous options, lemon quartz brings a beauty and versatility that make it a great choice for any jewellery collection.
Lemon quartz typically shows a range of yellow tones, from pale lemon to rich golden hues, with some pieces hinting at green or brown. Its clarity varies from transparent to translucent, and well-cut stones display a sparkling brilliance like sunlight on water. This gem is valued for its durability, scoring 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness, which makes it suitable for various jewellery uses.
Overview
Lemon quartz is a variety of quartz gemstone with a brilliant yellow-green to yellow colour, achieved through artificial gamma-ray irradiation and heat treatment, mined primarily in Brazil. It is a durable gemstone, rating a 7 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, and is used in various jewellery pieces for its vibrant sparkle and sunny appearance.
Metaphysically, it is associated with optimism, clarity, focus, and abundance, with its energy believed to cleanse chakras and dispel negative energy.
Quartz Gemmological Properties
| Chemical Formula: | SiO2, Silicon dioxide |
| Crystal Structure: | a-quartz: trigonal ß-quartz: hexagonal |
| Colour: | Colourless, various colours from clear to black |
| Hardness: | 7 on the Mohs scale |
| Refractive Index: | 1.544 – 1.553 |
| Density: | 2.65; 2.59 – 2.63 in impure forms |
| Cleavage: | Indistinct |
| Transparency: | Transparent to opaque |
| Double Refraction or Birefringence: | 0.009 |
| Lustre: | Vitreous, waxy to dull |
| Fluorescence: | Usually none |
