Guilding the Stones: November Trivia Quiz

Answer: Quartz

Citrine is indeed a quartz - along with such popular gems as tiger's eye amethyst. Now for the scientific bit - citrine is SiO2, silicon dioxide with colloidal iron hydrates. If you have never seen a citrine, although it is named after the French for lemon, it can range from the palest yellow in many shades through to brown.

Answer: Opal

If you yearn for opals, you should have been born in October. In fact, it is almost impossible to tell citrine and topaz apart, and they are both traditional and modern birthstones for November, and topaz is also the Ayurvedic stone for November. Pearl is the mystical gemstone for November and a beryl is the Zodiac stone for Scorpio (October 24-November 22).

However, I suggest you ignore these suggestions and wear gemstones that you find attractive!

Answer: Artificially heated

Most citrine that you can buy commercially is heat-treated amethyst or smokey quartz. (Smokey quartz itself is often irradiated quartz!) Gamma rays are also used to enhance gems - brilliant blue topaz or diamonds for example. Heat can change a yellow aquamarine into a blue one. Always buy from a reputable jeweller and ask if the gems have been enhanced.

As minerals get more and more scarce, the practice will become more widespread. Gems have also been filled or coated with oil, wax, glass, resin or other coloured or clear material to improve appearance or make them tougher.

They have even been bleached or dyed! Many of these changes can only be detected with scientific analysis. Are you all now looking at your jewellery with suspicion?

Answer: Manipura: The Solar Plexus Chakra

The solar plexus chakra apparently relates to the stomach, liver, digestion, nerves, muscles and gall bladder. Citrine is meant to be good for all these.

Answer: 13th

Sorry for my cynicism, but I believe that most of these 'traditional' gifts have lasted since the dawn of advertising. Other 'traditional' stones for the 13th are moonstone and malachite. For the wrong answers, fifth is rose quartz, twentieth emerald and fortieth ruby. Anniversaries ending in zero or five are at least traditional enough for most people to have heard of them.

Answer: Lammas

Lammas, or Lughnassadh (pronounced "LOO-nahs-ah") is a pagan rite similar to harvest festival or Thanksgiving, and as such celebrates the harvest as summer passes. As well as citrine, yellow diamonds, aventurine, sardonyx and peridot are appropriate.

Answer: Topaz, corundum, diamond

The Mohs scale, starting with the softest, runs Talc, Gypsum, Calcite, Fluorite, Apatite, Orthoclase feldspar, Quartz, Topaz, Corundum and Diamond. Should you wish to remember this, the mnemonic 'Toronto Girls Can Flirt, And Other Queer Things Can Do' might help. In practical terms, should you wear a lot of rings, do not put your diamonds next to your citrine, or the diamond can scratch it (or any other stones).

Answer: Turquoise

Citrine shades go from the palest yellow to a dark brown. Madeira and cognac are named after the drinks, and gold after the element. Turquoise is not a description used for citrine.

Answer: Iron

In citrine there are about 40 parts per million particles of iron and the oxidisation of the iron changes the colour of the citrine.

Answer: In the cash drawer

There are many, many properties ascribed to citrine. Personally, I advise you to follow them if you wish, but please not to rely on them. My citrine ring has not made me noticeably wealthy! I hope that you have enjoyed the quiz.