The birthstones for November are topaz and citrine. Topaz comes in various colors and measures 8 on the Mohs hardness scale. It is mined in many countries around the world and was believed by ancient cultures to have various powers. Citrine is a variety of quartz that ranges in color from yellow to brown and is produced mainly in Brazil, Argentina, and Russia. It was thought to have healing properties such as increasing self-esteem and clarity of thought.