 
The birthstone for November is the citrine or topaz.Citrine belongs to the quartz family, although it is often mistakenly referred to as "topaz. The name comes from the French citron (lemon), which refers to its color. The Greeks and Romans used citrine in intaglio and cabochon forms during the first and second centuries. This gemstone was worn as a protective talisman and used for medicinal purposes; it was thought to air in digestion and cleanse toxins from the body. To some people, citrine symbolized lightheartedness and joy. Mohs hardness: 7 Refractive Index: 1.5544-1.553 Specific Gravity: 2.65 Color: Citrine ranges from light to medium gold. Some have color zoning. Smaller sizes are lighter in color, and larger sizes are deeper in color. Origin: The major source for citrine is Brazil. It is also found in the United States (North Carolina & California), Spain, and the Soviet Union. The toughness of citrines is good. They may be cleaned with jewelry cleaners, soap, or an untreated cloth. Topaz comes from an old Sanskrit word, tapaz (fire). There is a common misconception that all topaz is yellow. Pure topaz is colorless, but this well loved gem occurs in a broad range of colors: yellow, brown, pink, red, blue, and green. Ancient Greeks called topaz the "Stone of Strength." During medieval times, topaz was thought to heal both physical and mental disorders and prevent death. The toughness of topaz is poor. Clean them with soap or an untreated cloth only. Mohs hardness: 8 Refractive Index: 1.610-1.620 Specific Gravity: 3.53-3.56 Yellow, Golden, or Sherry topaz is found in Brazil, Soviet Union, Japan, Sri Lanka, Burma, the United States, and Germany. Pink topaz is found mainly in Brazil, but also in the Urals. Blue topaz is found in Brazil, Mexico, the United States, Burma, the Urals & the Kamchatka Peninsula, Namibia, and Nigeria. Colorless topaz is found in Brazil, the Soviet Union, the United States, Germany, Japan, Nigeria, Zaire, and Namibia.
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