Golden Citrine Sphere from Zambia with great inclusions

A polished citrine sphere from Zambia. Honey-yellow base color, numerous internal inclusions that appear as fine streaks and points of light refraction when light passes through.

Citrine is the yellow variety of quartz. The coloring comes from traces of trivalent iron in the hexagonal quartz lattice. In the Zambian pegmatite deposits, the mineral regularly occurs in this intense honey-colored hue.

The inclusions are mineralogically instructive structures. They can be remnants of fossil growth phases, microcavities, or traces of accompanying minerals that grew in during quartz crystallization. A detail that proves authenticity.

Zambian citrine deposits, especially those around Kalomo, are considered a premium source for naturally grown citrine. Unlike heat-treated amethysts, which are often sold as citrine, this is real, untreated material.

Polishing such material into a spherical shape is standard workshop work. The material itself is the rarity.