3.1" Smoky, Yellow Quartz Cluster with Phantoms - Heat Treated

Madagascar produces some beautiful quartz crystal specimens, some of which come from the Ambolo quartz mine in Antsirabe. Smoky quartz and citrine quartz have also been collected from this area, but the supply of natural citrine is extremely limited.

This specimen has the trademark yellow "citrine" coloration, but it is not natural. It acquired its color by heat treating smoky quartz. The yellow "citrine" quartz coming out of Madagascar is heat treated, even though dealers list it as "natural". Natural citrine is quite rare and the cost will typically reflect this. If the price of a quartz specimen listed as natural seems too good to be true, it likely is.