Two Sides of the Same Coin
Amethyst and citrine are both macrocrystalline varieties of quartz (silicon dioxide). The only difference between them lies in trace iron impurities and geological heating.
The Purple Rule
Amethyst gets its beautiful purple color from iron impurities and natural irradiation from surrounding host rocks. It is one of the most abundant gemstones on Earth, prominently mined in Brazil and Uruguay.
The Heat Transformation
Citrine is much rarer in nature. Most commercial citrine is actually "baked" amethyst. When amethyst is heated to around 400-500°C, the iron oxidation state changes, shifting the color from purple to golden yellow. In highly rare occurrences, both colors exist in the same crystal, known as ametrine.
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