Grading a Citrine Geode

How do you price a citrine cathedral, citrine geode, citrine church? Although the author has a degree in physics, he just asks, "What inspires me?" If you ask more, read on.

Main Question 1

"How do I value a citrine cathedral (citrine geode/ citrine church) as a whole?

Since all of the inner surface is crystal, the primary grading factor is color. Yet colors vary from lemon citrine to golden citrine to "root beer color." Haha! I told you to ask, "What inspires me?"

You can note and measure whether the color is even. In every area of the geode, is the color the same? Differences appear due to uneven levels of heat during the citrine-color formation.

Here's a related question. Is the color of the points the same as the color of the quartz base (matrix)? If the level of iron was higher when crystal formation began, the points may have strong color and the bases of the crystals may be white or colorless.

Large crystals are more highly prized than small crystals for several reasons. Large crystals took many more eons to form, and conditions had to remain constant. A large fully-saturated crystal is rarer than a small fully-saturated one.

Geode rocks with thin walls are more highly valued that those with thick walls. Thin walls are popular. More importantly, your price goes to purchase crystals not walls.

Similarly a citrine cathedral (citrine church) with a thin base commands a higher price per pound. The mines add cement to the bases to protect any crystal area from breaking off and to allow you to stand the geode on end.

Symmetry and shape are important factors. Most folks favor tall citrine cathedrals, shaped like cathedral spires. A geode rock that is square or extremely bent is less valued... read MORE AFFORDABLE.

The last factor is interesting but its affect on price per pound is an open question. If you favor citrine cathedrals (citrine churches) that are lanky and shallow, you get more height for the weight. Alternately, you may like stones that have deep caves, depth, a true third dimension. Send us email to tell us what you think.

Main Question 2

The second question is a surprise, "What if I accidentally dropped the citrine cathedral (citrine church) from a third story balcony onto the pavement?"

You would say one of 2 things. The first is censored... Netnanny would keep little kids from asking their parents to buy our citrines.

The 2nd is, "Satori! The Good Lord wants me to go into the loose stone business. He and I know that citrines are very valuable. The Good Lord wants me to cut the stones!" For a little reassurance that the Good Lord wants you to be OK, here's a link on grading loose stones.