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Zircon
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

Chemistry:  ZrSiO₄  [Zirconium Silicate]

Discovered in Prehistory;   IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered).
Zircon is an ancient name from the Arabic zargun, zar from the Persian meaning for gold and gun for color.

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Silicates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

8/A.09-10

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

9.AD.30

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
D : Nesosilicates without additional anions; cations in [6] and/or greater coordination

Related to:

Zircon Group: Zircon, Hafnon, Thorite, Coffinite, Thorogummite. Zircon - Thorogummite Series. Zircon - Hafnon Series. The Zirconium analogue of Thorite and Hafnon. The low-pressure dimorph of Reidite.

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Tetragonal - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal

Crystal Habit:

Most commonly as tabular to prismatic crystals, with square cross sections, terminated by [111], to 30 cm; as irregular grains, massive.

Twinning:

On [101], geniculated.

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

[110] Indistinct, [111] Indistinct

Fracture:

Conchoidal

Tenacity:

Brittle

Hardness (Mohs):

7.5

Density:

4.60 - 4.70 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

Yellow in SW UV, dull red in LW UV. Thermoluminescent. Cathodoluminescent.

Radioactivity:

Not normally radioactive but may be Mildly radioactive when it contains trace amounts of Uranium or Thorium). Metamict when radioactive.

Mild; GRapi = 3,773.15 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Optical Properties

Color:

Reddish Brown, Yellow, Green, Blue, Gray, Colorless

Transparency:

Transparent to Translucent to Opaque

Luster:

Vitreous to Adamantine; Greasy when metamict

Refractive Index:

1.925 - 2.015  Uniaxial ( + ); Isotropic when metamict

Birefringence:

0.055

Dispersion:

Very Strong

Pleochroism:

Very Weak

Occurances

Geological Setting:

An accessory mineral in igneous and metamorphic rocks, with crystals reaching large size in mafic pegmatites and carbonatites; in sedimentary rocks and alluvial heavy-mineral sands.

Common Associations:

Amphiboles, Feldspars, Mica, Quartz

Type Locality:

n/a (Prehistory)

Year Discovered:

Prehistory

View mineral photos:

Zircon Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Zircon is a beautiful gem when properly cut because its dispersion is very high, close to a Diamond's. Zircon is found in a variety of colors including blue, green, yellow, red, brown and colorless. Blue is the most popular color and can only be produced by heating reddish-brown crystals. Green Zircon may be slightly radioactive if it contains Uranium or Thorium.

Zircon is often confused with the artificial diamond simulant Cubic Zirconia. Cubic Zirconia's formula is ZrO2 (zirconium oxide) and Zircon is ZrSiO4 (zirconium silicate). Zircon has also been used as a diamond simulant and resembles Diamond in luster and fire. Colorless Zircon may even be mistaken for a Diamond by experienced jewelers. Zircon is an attractive and affordable gemstone and is the December birthstone.

U- and Th-bearing zircon is radioactive. Gemstones should be tested for radioactivity before being worn on or near the body. Zicons are commonly slightly radioactive due to trace amounts of uranium. Estimated Radioactivity from Zircon - mild

Zircon is a very widely distributed mineral, but fine crystals are relatively rare.
 

  
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