King Citrine Mine: A World-Class Alpine Quartz, Citrine, and Ametrine Locality in British Columbia
The King Citrine Mine, located high on Mount Breakenridge above Harrison Lake in southwestern British Columbia, represents one of the province's most significant gem and mineral localities. The deposit occurs within a glacially exposed granitic pluton that has been uplifted and sculpted by repeated glaciation, leaving portions of the system exposed as a nunatak above surrounding ice fields. Hydrothermal fluids exploited fractures within the pluton, creating a complex pocket-bearing quartz system that today yields exceptional mineral specimens. The deposit is best described as a high-altitude, fracture-controlled, multi-phase hydrothermal quartz system whose preservation has been strongly influenced by alpine glacial processes.
Learn More About the GeologyThe mine is renowned for producing world-class specimens of exceptionally clear quartz and natural citrine, many displaying remarkable transparency and crystal development. A defining characteristic of the locality is the abundance of quartz containing vivid green actinolite needle inclusions, including gem-grade material of a quality rarely encountered elsewhere. Many crystals exhibit secondary growth episodes that produced classic scepter formations, while some specimens show multiple stages of mineral growth recording the evolution of the hydrothermal system. Of particular scientific and mineralogical importance are the rare ametrine scepters recovered from the site, where amethyst has crystallized directly upon earlier citrine growth. Such occurrences are exceptionally uncommon worldwide and place the locality among a very small number of documented sources of naturally formed ametrine scepter quartz.
uplifted and sculpted by repeated glaciation, leaving portions of the system exposed as a nunatak above surrounding ice fields. Hydrothermal fluids exploited fractures within the pluton, creating a complex pocket-bearing quartz system that today yields exceptional mineral specimens. The deposit is best described as a high-altitude, fracture-controlled, multi-phase hydrothermal quartz system whose preservation has been strongly influenced by alpine glacial processes.
The combination of natural citrine, gem-quality actinolite-included quartz, scepter crystals, and rare ametrine specimens makes the King Citrine Mine one of British Columbia's most noteworthy mineral localities despite its remote alpine setting. The occurrence contributes significantly to the province's mineral heritage, demonstrating an unusual convergence of geological processes capable of producing specimens of both scientific interest and exceptional aesthetic quality. As exploration continues, the locality has the potential to further enhance British Columbia's reputation as a source of world-class mineral specimens and rare gem materials.