Zircon
Zircon – Jewelry Stone
Zircon is a mineral that belongs to the silicate group and consists mainly of zirconium silicate. The name of this mineral refers to the color in which it most commonly occurs and comes from the Persian language, from the word “zargun”, which means “golden”. Zircon minerals are found in India, Cambodia, Australia, USA, Russia, Brazil, Tanzania, Thailand and Sri Lanka. Zircon occurs mainly in rocks formed by igneous and metamorphic processes and in veins of alpine and hydrothermal character. It is often associated with quartz, feldspar, biotite, garnet or monazite. Natural zircon is classified as a gemstone because its hardness on the Mohs scale ranges from 6.5 to 7.5 and its density ranges from 3.9 to 4.8 g/cm3. Characteristic features of zircon include diamond-like luster, conchoidal fracture and indistinct cleavage. Due to its high brittleness, zircon stone is easily damaged, so great care must be taken when working it. Zircon is often confused with cubic zirconia due to the similarity in name, but these are two completely different stones. The main difference is that zircon is a natural stone while cubic zirconia is a synthetic stone.
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Zircon – Color
Zircon stones come in a wide range of colors – colorless, yellow, red, orange, brown, green, purple, and blue. The color of zircon is determined by impurities of other minerals such as phosphorus, niobium, iron, or calcium. Some specimens have a cat’s eye effect. Natural zircon used in jewelry is most commonly colorless, golden brown, or blue. Some colors have their proper names, such as:
- Jargon – yellow zircon,
- Hyacinth – red and orange zircon,
- Starlit – blue zircon.
Sometimes, due to its high dispersion, zircon stones are mistaken for diamonds and sold as their imitation under names like “Ceylon diamonds” or “Marata diamonds”.
Zircon – Applications
The zircon mineral has a wide range of applications:
- It is used in the production of refractory and fire-resistant materials.
- It is a key source of the elements zirconium, hafnium, and thorium.
- In dentistry, it is used as an alternative to metal alloys.
- Zircon is also used in the chemical industry.
- It is used for absolute dating of rocks using radiometric methods.
- It is used in the production of ceramics and glazes.
- It is a valued collector’s gemstone.
- Primarily, zircon is an exceptional gemstone used in jewelry making.
To bring out all the best aspects of the stone, zircon is often faceted. Zircon also works well with other gemstones such as diamonds. In our online store you will find faceted zircon in various shapes and sizes.
