In 2018, Laurent Godefroy, a French collector and mineral dealer who is always on the lookout for Moroccan mineralogical curiosities, first reported in the journal *Le R\u00e8gne Min\u00e9ral* on the discovery of remarkable quartz crystals with a rich and unusual citrine color from Morocco during the Munich mineral show (Godefroy, 2018)1<\/a><\/sup>. At that time, it was known only that these quartz crystals were believed to originate from the Midelt region; the reason for their color and specific growth form was still unknown. Before the show in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines in June 2019, Godefroy managed to collect a sufficiently large batch of specimens to better determine their origin and consider their designation (Godefroy, 2019)2<\/a><\/sup>. <\/p>\n Yellowish-brown quartz from the Midelt region, Morocco; on the left, a radial cluster measuring 8.7 x 6 cm, and on the right, a crystal measuring 3.7 x 4.2 cm and a radial cluster around a chalcedony core measuring 3 x 2.6 cm (collection: Laurent Godefroy; photos: L.-D. Bayle in *Le R\u00e8gne Min\u00e9ral*, no. 148, 2019)<\/em><\/p>\n\n The crystallization form of these quartz crystals from Morocco are particularly interesting and varied. Several crystals exhibit clear characteristics of split growth<\/strong>, also known as artichoke quartz<\/a>. In this process, multiple crystals grow from a single common point at the base, similar to the way the leaves of an artichoke are arranged. The central and lateral crystals are roughly aligned along their long axis (c-axis) toward the same point, indicating that they formed simultaneously rather than in successive phases. <\/p>\n In addition, there are crystals that end in a pointed tip composed of slightly curved faces<\/strong>; these are the so-called rhombohedral faces, which together form a sort of small pyramid at the tip (pyramidal quartz<\/strong>). This differs from the more familiar prismatic quartz, in which the crystals are more elongated, with a distinct column and a sharp transition to the tip. In this Moroccan material, those prisms are often almost entirely absent. <\/p>\n\n Typical piramidal shape with curved edges\/faces and no or hardly any visible prisms; the split growth is also clearly visible in the close-up photo on the right (collection and photos: Bianca Schouw, Hidden Gem Minerals<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n\n We also see fairly flat growth forms, such as those seen in the amethyst \u201cflowers\u201d from Brazil, as well as flower- or sphere-shaped aggregates<\/strong> and collar-shaped outgrowths. Such forms may indicate rapid crystal growth or disruptions in the crystal lattice (Godefroy, 2019). <\/p>\n Flat growth forms serving as a base on which round, flower- or spherical-shaped clusters of quartz crystals have grown (collection and photos by Stefan van Oers, The Crystal Pocket<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n\n The presence of chalcedony in an orbicular form as the seed or growth nucleus of the flower-like aggregates, and a matrix that is sometimes clay-rich or marl-like, indicate a sedimentary origin for these quartzes. They formed in thin layers and also contain inclusions of organic material (Godefroy, 2019). <\/p>\n\n Some sellers tout these unusual quartz specimens from Morocco as \u201cpseudomorphs after ikaite,\u201d<\/strong> but experts clearly reject this claim. This is because ikaite is stable only at very low temperatures (below 6\u00b0C) in cold, aqueous environments, such as on the seafloor. No scientific evidence has been found that such conditions ever prevailed at the sites in Morocco. Furthermore, when heated, ikaite does not transform into quartz, but into glendonite \u2014 a variety of calcite (Schultz et al., 2023)3<\/a><\/sup>. Cases in which glendonite is subsequently converted into quartz or opal (double pseudomorph) are extremely rare and limited to specific sites such as the well-known \u201copal pineapples<\/a>\u201d from White Cliffs, Australia. <\/p>\n\n The confusion seems to stem primarily from the external appearance<\/strong>. Both ikaiet and glendonite can have complex crystal structures, such as flower-shaped aggregates and curved crystal faces\u2014precisely the forms also seen in some Moroccan quartz specimens. But as Schultz et al. (2023) emphasize: external resemblance alone is not, in and of itself, evidence of pseudomorphic transformation. Furthermore, there is no credible known example of glendonite that has naturally transformed into quartz. Furthermore, in the geological context of the Moroccan localities, the conditions necessary for the formation of ikaiite or glendonite are absent. Nor have any records of ikaiite or glendonite from Morocco been found, except on the websites of a number of sellers of these specific quartz specimens. <\/p>\n\n Two examples of calcite var. glendonite, a pseudomorph of ikaite, in which the resemblance to some of the Moroccan quartz aggregates can be seen (spherical with curved crystal faces), but also with terminal faces at the tips that are clearly different from those of the quartz clusters; on the left, a 6.5 cm wide aggregate from the Bol\u2019shaya Balakhnya River, Taimyr Peninsula, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia; on the right, a 3.5 cm wide aggregate from the Olenitsa River, White Sea Coast, Murmansk Oblast, Russia <\/em><\/p>\n\n The Moroccan quartz specimens show no characteristics of a previous mineral form and lack any traces of a transformation process. Both their shape and composition indicate that these are quartz crystals that were directly deposited from silica in a sedimentary environment. According to experts, they are simply yellow quartz of natural origin, with no pseudomorphic history. The story about ikaite appears to be a commercial fabrication, devised to make the pieces more appealing to buyers. As soon as such a name appears on labels, it is quickly adopted by other sellers, even though there is no scientific basis for it. <\/p>\n\n The color of these Moroccan quartz crystals varies greatly, and even within a single crystal, shades can range from yellow-brown and orange to dark brown, almost black, or even white-cream. Analyses of several specimens show that the color is not evenly distributed. Furthermore, these quartz crystals do not exhibit dichroism<\/strong> \u2014 a color change when rotated in polarized light \u2014 which we do see, for example, in natural citrine with an aluminum background. <\/p>\n\n Using a London dichroscope, we see no dichroism in the Moroccan quartz on the left, while on the right, a clear color change is visible above and below the boundary between the two polarization filters positioned at right angles to each other in natural citrine from the Congo<\/em><\/p>\n\n Combined with the sedimentary origin of these specimens, this suggests that the color is not caused by color centers or radioactivity, but most likely by organic material<\/strong> (Godefroy, 2019). This primarily involves bitumen or related hydrocarbons<\/strong>, which were incorporated during the formation of the quartz. Bitumen is a solid, dark substance that occurs as a petroleum residue. Depending on the amount and distribution of these organic components, the intensity of the color varies\u2014from slight discoloration to nearly opaque dark brown patches. <\/p>\n\n An important indication of the presence of these organic substances is their behavior under ultraviolet light. Several specimens exhibit a distinct orange-yellow fluorescence under long-wavelength UV (365 nm)<\/strong>. This glow occurs because organic molecules in the inclusions absorb UV light and re-emit it as visible light. Such fluorescence is known to occur in quartz with petroleum or bitumen inclusions, and is also found in other hydrocarbons such as methane. The exact color of the fluorescence depends on the composition of the organic material, the wavelength of the UV light, and any other impurities or structural defects present in the crystal. In any case, natural citrine does not exhibit fluorescence. <\/p>\n Although the exact identification of the organic compounds requires specialized techniques \u2014 such as Raman or UV-Vis spectroscopy \u2014 all evidence suggests that the color in these quartz specimens is primarily the result of natural organic inclusions. This places them squarely within a sedimentary formation environment and clearly distinguishes them from colored quartz varieties of different origins, such as radiation-altered citrine, smoky quartz, and amethyst. <\/p>\n\n The yellow-brown quartz specimens in question were first mentioned by Godefroy in the French journal *Le R\u00e8gne Min\u00e9ral* (2018 and 2019), in which he cited Midelt<\/strong>, Morocco, as the location. However, if you search Mindat.org for quartz from the Midelt region<\/a>, you\u2019ll mainly find the well-known red hematite quartz from Aouli. No photos are available there of the yellow-brown varieties we\u2019re discussing here. <\/p>\n\n Nowadays, the locality is often listed as Oulad Al Bakri <\/strong>, also known by variations such as Kasba Oulad el Bekri or Oulad el Bakhi, located in the F\u00e8s-Mekn\u00e8s<\/strong> region. On Mindat, this location is listed as: Boulemane Ca\u00efdat, Boulemane Cercle, Boulemane Province, F\u00e8s-Mekn\u00e8s Region, Morocco<\/a>.Only two specimens from this location can be foundon Mindat<\/a>: pale yellow, flower-like aggregates with a radial structure. According to the listed owner, these were found in the vicinity of Boulemane Ca\u00efdat, presumably in 2021\u20132022. This material closely resembles what is offered online as\u201cquartz citrine star\u201d<\/em> or under the misleading name\u201cglendonite citrine<\/em>,\u201d often with the same origin listed. <\/p>\n\n There are no photos or entries for these quartz specimens on Mineralienatlas.de, neither under \u201cMidelt\u201d nor under \u201cOulad Al Bakri.\u201d It therefore remains unclear whether these are all the same type of material from the same location\u2014 or whether they represent multiple similar finds from different regions. In any case, the yellow-brown clusters that have been appearing on the market since 2018\/2019 under the name \u201cMidelt\u201d closely resemble, at least in appearance, recent material from the F\u00e8s-Mekn\u00e8s region. Incidentally, these sites are only about 100 kilometers apart. This makes it plausible that confusion or overlap in statements of origin can easily arise, especially when material enters the market through middlemen. <\/p>\n\n Update (July 2026):<\/strong> Following the publication of this article, I received additional information from a collector who recently purchased these quartz specimens at the Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines mineral show. According to the Moroccan seller, the specimens are said to come from the Imilchil<\/strong> area. However, that origin requires some clarification. As also noted on Mindat, minerals marketed as \u201cImilchil\u201d often do not originate from the town of Imilchil itself, but from various sites in the neighboring Agoudim Ca\u00efdat<\/a><\/strong> (Midelt Cercle, Midelt Province, Dr\u00e2a-Tafilalet). At present, however, neither Mindat<\/strong> nor Mineralienatlas<\/strong> has any photos or descriptions available of quartz from this region that clearly correspond to the yellow-brown quartz specimens discussed here. The exact locality of this material therefore remains uncertain for the time being. It is possible that similar quartz specimens from different localities are being sold under trade names such as \u201cMidelt,\u201d \u201cImilchil,\u201d and \u201cOulad Al Bakri,\u201d or that the origin is not consistently indicated in trade. <\/p>\n\n Anyone who knows more about the exact origin of these quartz specimens, or about differences between the mentioned locations (Midelt, Oulad Al Bakri\/Boulemane, Imilchil, or Agoudim Ca\u00efdat), is always welcome to get in touch<\/a>. Additional information, photos of the site, or reliable documentation are very welcome. To date, no convincing photos or descriptions of material that unmistakably matches the yellow-brown quartz discussed here have been published on Mindat or Mineralienatlas. <\/p>\n\n The brownish-yellow quartz from Morocco is still widely available as “Moroccan citrine” or “Glendonite citrine,” as seen at the Gem & Mineral show in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines in June 2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n The yellow-brown to orange-colored quartz specimens from Morocco, which are marketed as citrine and sometimes under names such as\u201cglendonite citrine\u201d <\/em>or\u201cQuartz citrine star,\u201d <\/em>have been found not to be pseudomorphs of ikaite or glendonite<\/strong>. That explanation is geologically unlikely and has been rejected by experts. The growth forms of the quartz \u2014 such as flower-shaped aggregates and split growth (artichoke structure) \u2014 can be readily explained within a sedimentary depositional environment. There is no evidence of a previous mineral form or a process of pseudomorphic transformation. <\/p>\n\n The color<\/strong> of these quartz crystals is caused by organic material<\/strong>, likely bitumen<\/strong>, and is not the result of iron, aluminum, or radioactivity, as is the case with natural citrine or smoky quartz. This is supported by the fluorescence under long-wavelength UV light, which is typical of hydrocarbon compounds. <\/p>\n\n The exact location of the find<\/strong> is difficult to determine with certainty, but the most recent pieces appear to come from the Boulemane region in F\u00e8s-Mekn\u00e8s<\/strong>. Midelt, which was previously cited as a source, is only 100 km away. It is possible that both locations yield similar material or that there is some confusion in the supply chain. <\/p>\n\n In short: these quartzs are naturally formed, but they are neither citrine nor pseudomorphs of ikaite<\/strong>. Commercial naming conventions are often misleading and lack scientific basis. <\/p>\n\n This article was made possible through a collaboration with Bianca Schouw of Hidden Gem Minerals<\/a> and Stefan van Oers of The Crystal Pocket<\/a>. This is a great example of how sellers, together with the Stapel van Stenen knowledge center, contribute to providing honest and reliable information for the gemstone and mineral industry. To learn more about citrine and how to distinguish it from other types of yellow quartz, read the article on citrine in the Gem or Scam Library<\/a> and listen to the podcast episode on citrine (Dutch).<\/a><\/p>\n\n Want to learn more about quartz crystal forms? Take the mini-course<\/a>! <\/p>\n For several years, remarkable shaped quartz crystals have been popping up on the market from Morocco with a distinctive citrine color, ranging from yellow-brown to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":237969,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"[{\"id\":\"38ebd68e-7e12-430c-8ffe-a5f6d9a6808a\",\"content\":\"Godefroy, L. (2018). Quartz \\u00e0 teinte citrine \\u00e9trange de la r\\u00e9gion de Midelt, Maroc. Le R\\u00e8gne Min\\u00e9ral<\\\/em>, (144), 34. \"},{\"id\":\"ecb48a90-2d2f-400c-b068-73dc46076577\",\"content\":\"Godefroy, L. (2019). Quartz de teinte citrine et d\\u00e9couvertes min\\u00e9ralogiques r\\u00e9centes au Maroc. Le R\\u00e8gne Min\\u00e9ral<\\\/em>, (148), 40\\u201342. \"},{\"id\":\"630070f6-55dd-4ee0-bbc2-396c2d15eefe\",\"content\":\"Schultz, B. P., Huggett, J., Ullmann, C. V., Kassens, H., & K\\u00f6lling, M. (2023). Links between Ikaite Morphology, Recrystallized Ikaite Petrography, and Glendonite Pseudomorphs Determined from Polar and Deep-Sea Ikaite<\\\/em>. Minerals, 13(7), 841. https:\\\/\\\/doi.org\\\/10.3390\\\/min13070841<\\\/a> \"}]","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[715,728],"tags":[2202,2349,2351,2348,2346,2347,2350],"class_list":["post-238006","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-deeper-analysis","category-for-the-enthusiast","tag-citrine","tag-glendonite","tag-glendonite-citrine-en","tag-ikaite","tag-moroccan-citrine","tag-pseudomorph-after-ikaite","tag-quartz-citrine-star-en",""],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/marokkaanse-gele-kwarts-typisch-cluster-2.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/238006","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=238006"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/238006\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":243429,"href":"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/238006\/revisions\/243429"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/237969"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=238006"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=238006"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=238006"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Laurent](\"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Laurent-Godefroy-Le-Regne-Mineral.jpg\")
![\"Moroccan](\"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Marokkaanse-kwarts-1-Le-Regne-Mineral-2019.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Moroccan](\"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Marokkaanse-kwarts-2-Le-Regne-Mineral-2019.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\nInteresting growth forms of quartz<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/artsijokkengroei-marokkaanse-kwarts-lijnen-door-c-as.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/marokkaanse-gele-kwarts-typisch-cluster-2.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/marokkaanse-gele-kwarts-gesplitste-groei.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/platte-groei-gele-kwarts-marokko.png\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Marokkaans-kwarts-cluster-Stefan-van-Oers-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Marokkaans-kwarts-cluster-details-Stefan-van-Oers.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\nStriking crystal growth, but no pseudomorphs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
![\"glendonite](\"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/glendoniet-Rusland-1.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"glendonite](\"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/glendoniet-Rusland-2.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\nCause of the \u201ccitrine\u201d color<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/marokkaanse-kwarts-dichroscoop.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/congo-citrien-dichroscoop.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/marokkaanse-gele-kwarts-uv-reactie-365-nm.jpg\")
Presumed location<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
![\"quartz](\"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/quartz-citrine-stars-marokko.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/marokkaanse-kwarts-met-bitumen-SMAM-2026-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stapelvanstenen.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/marokkaanse-kwarts-met-bitumen-SMAM-2026-2.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\nConclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n