Lemon Quartz: Trade Name, Treatment, Care

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Lemon quartz is a pale yellow to yellow-green quartz. Most often it is colourless or smoky quartz that has been irradiated and then heated: a trade name, not to be confused with citrine.

Key points

Colour	lemon yellow, yellow-green; transparent to translucent
Mineral family	quartz, silicon dioxide, SiO2
Crystal system	trigonal
Hardness (Mohs)	7
Density	2.65
Nature of the name	trade name (lemon quartz): not a mineral species
Origin of the colour	usually a treatment: irradiation then heating; rarely natural
Known deposits	mainly Brazil (the rough treated quartz comes mostly from there)
Other names	“lemon quartz”, “ouro verde” (Brazil)

What is lemon quartz?

Lemon quartz (quartz citron in French) is a trade name for a quartz of a pale yellow to yellow-green, the shade of a lemon. It is not a variety recognised by mineralogists. The mineral is ordinary quartz (SiO2), with a hardness of 7 and a density of 2.65; only the colour is special.

What does science say about this colour? Some yellow-green natural quartz does exist, but it is uncommon and does not supply the market. The great majority of lemon quartz sold is colourless quartz or smoky quartz that has been irradiated (with gamma rays), sometimes followed by gentle heating, which creates defects in the crystal (“colour centres”) and gives it this tint. It is a common industrial process. Gamma irradiation does not make the stone radioactive.

Brazil is the main source of rough quartz of this type. It is also sold under the trade names ouro verde (“green gold” in Portuguese) and lemon quartz. For quartz in general, see rock crystal.

Lemon quartz, citrine and prasiolite: three different things

Name	Colour	What it generally is
Lemon quartz	lemon yellow, sometimes greenish	irradiated quartz, sometimes heated; rarely natural
Citrine	golden yellow to orange, yellow-brown	most often amethyst or heated smoky quartz; natural citrine is rare
Prasiolite	pale green	most often heated amethyst; rare in nature
Smoky quartz	brown-grey	natural or irradiated quartz

There is no strict boundary between these names: some sellers call any yellow quartz “citrine”, others reserve the word for quartz heated to a yellow-orange. To learn more about citrine, read recognising a real citrine and natural or heated citrine.

Traditional symbolism

Lemon yellow evokes the sun, freshness and light. In modern books on crystals, lemon quartz is associated with clarity, optimism, mental sharpness and concentration, often through the solar plexus chakra.

These associations are modern conventions based on the colour. The name is recent and the stone has no ancient use. No study shows any effect on concentration or mood.

Area	Cited correspondence
Chakra	solar plexus
Element	fire or air, according to authors
Signs	Leo, Gemini, Sagittarius (variable)
Keywords	clarity, optimism, liveliness

How to use it

As jewellery: a faceted stone in a pendant, earrings or a ring. The hardness of 7 suits daily wear (guide).
As a cut stone or beads: bracelets and necklaces; the lemon colour is much appreciated in summer.
As decoration: a point or a sphere near a window; the colour changes with the light.
In meditation: gazing at a clear stone for a few minutes before a work session can serve as a starting ritual (tutorial).

Care and cleansing

Cleaning: lukewarm water, mild soap, cloth or soft brush. Dry it.
Sun and heat: avoid both: the colour of an irradiated quartz can fade with prolonged strong light or heat (above about 200 °C). Do not leave it on a windowsill in summer sun, or in a car.
Salt: possible, but rinse with clear water.
Knocks: quartz is hard but brittle on its edges.
Symbolic cleansing: smoke, sound, moonlight (guide).

Recognising a genuine lemon quartz and avoiding confusion

The most important point is to know that “lemon quartz” generally refers to a treated stone. This is not deception if the label says so. A reputable seller states “irradiated” or “treated”.

Sign	Lemon quartz	Watch out for
Colour	pale yellow to yellow-green, even	very saturated, uniformly greenish colour: glass
Hardness	7: scratches glass	5 to 6: glass; softer: plastic, resin
Interior	fluid inclusions, veils, fractures	round bubbles: glass
Weight	density of 2.65	heavier: lead glass; lighter: plastic

As with other treated quartz, the colour may be unstable. Stones sold without any mention of treatment deserve a question. See how to read a treated-stone label, real or fake stone and our commitments on nature and treatments.

How to choose

Choose according to use: for jewellery, prefer a clean stone of even tone and a seller who states the treatment. Lemon quartz is inexpensive compared with a real citrine or natural prasiolite, but it should not be paid for at the price of a rare natural stone. Beads and cut stones are the most common forms.

Pairings: with rock crystal for a set of clear quartz, with citrine to compare the yellows, or with green quartz. To care for all your stones, read our guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is lemon quartz natural?

The mineral is, but its colour generally comes from a treatment: irradiation, sometimes followed by heating. Yellow-green natural quartz exists but is uncommon.

What is the difference between lemon quartz and citrine?

Citrine is golden yellow to orange and comes mostly from heated amethyst or smoky quartz; lemon quartz is paler, yellow-green, obtained mainly by irradiation. The two names sometimes overlap.

Is lemon quartz radioactive?

No. Gamma irradiation changes the colour of the crystal without making it radioactive. Buy from a seller who states the treatment.

Can the colour of lemon quartz fade?

Yes, with prolonged direct sun or heat above about 200 °C. Keep it in the shade.

What is ouro verde?

A Brazilian trade name (“green gold”) for a yellow-green quartz, of the same family as lemon quartz.