Zircon Gemstone Information![]() Buy Natural Zircon from GemSelect
About Zircon - History and IntroductionZircon is not a very well-known gemstone, but it is one of the most important gemstones of today. Many people confuse zircon with the artificial diamond simulant, cubic zirconia. Of course, the two are completely different - cubic zirconia (CZ), is a lab-created synthetic material, while zircon is a naturally occurring gemstone with a very different chemical composition. However, before the introduction of diamond simulants like cubic zirconia and moissanite, white zircon was actually one of the most popular diamond substitutes, owing to its high dispersion and refractive index, and was often marketed under the misleading trade name of 'Matura diamond'. Zircon is also remarkably dense and exhibits a very pronounced level of birefringence. Zircon has such high birefringence that it may appear fuzzy or display facet-doubling. Zircon occurs in a wide range of colors, of which white or colorless is likely the least valuable or important. The most popular zircon today is blue zircon, usually occurring with green pleochroism, which can result in interesting teal-like colors. Blue zircon is actually produced by heating more commonly occurring brown zircon. However, only some brown materials have the appropriate physical structure to turn blue when heated, typically only deposits found in South East Asia - which is why most blue zircon comes from Cambodia or Burma. Blue zircon is one of the traditional modern birthstones for December. Zircon is a tremendously important mineral, indeed its prominence led to the emergence of the discipline of 'zirconology' in gemology. It is the oldest mineral on Earth, with samples found in Australia that are over 4.4 billion years old. Scientists discovered that zircon actually contains trace elements of uranium and thorium, both of which are elements with known half-lives. It is the uranium and thorium that cause such tremendous variations in the physical properties of zircon. Zircon is typically classified as low, medium and high zircon, in reference to the presence of optical properties. Low zircon has higher traces of radioactive uranium and thorium, which causes an alteration in physical structure, rendering it near-amorphous, though its physical appearance remains the same as high or medium zircon. Low zircon is typically green to brownish in color. Green zircon is rarely seen in the gem trade and is highly sought after.
Zircon is a zirconium silicate by composition. An unusual trait with zircon is that its gemological properties exhibit very wide ranges, such as hardness ratings spanning from 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. Zircon can also be easily distinguished by its notable birefringence; when looking down through the table of a stone, the doubling effect of facet edges can be easily seen. It also has a relatively high refractive index ranging from 1.810 to 2.024, and a density that can range between 3.93 and 4.73. Zircon also has a relatively high dispersion rating, exhibiting fire and brilliance comparable to that of fine diamond. Many stones will also exhibit strong pleochroism. Zircon is actually the oldest known mineral on Earth; the oldest samples are even older than the moon, which formed about 4 billion years ago. Zircon was the first crystal to form in molten granite as it cooled to form rock. Low zircon formed as the result of a process associated with the presence of uranium and thorium. The natural radioactivity disrupts the crystal structure and produces the changes in color and density through a process known as metamictization. Most zircon deposits are alluvial. Sri Lanka is the best known source for green metamict 'low' zircon. Specimens are also found in Burma (Myanmar), and may possibly exist in other well-known zircon deposits in Cambodia. Most zircon deposits come from Burma, though Australia boasts the oldest deposits dating back more over 4.4 billion years. Other notable sources include Brazil, Korea, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, Thailand and Vietnam.
Please refer to our Gemstone Glossary for details of gemology-related terms.
Zircon belongs to the large group of minerals known as neosilicates that contain both silicon and oxygen in their composition. The neosilicate group includes varieties of beryl and garnet, andalusite, kyanite, olivine (peridot), tanzanite, topaz, tourmaline and quartz. Zircon is also a primary ore of the element zirconium, a lustrous white-gray metal which closely resembles titanium. Zircon is often confused with the synthetic or lab-grown diamond stimulant known as CZ, or cubic zirconia, but zircon is a natural diamond substitute rather than an artificial simulant. In fact, colorless zircon was at one time a very popular natural diamond substitute, often marketed under the misleading trade name of 'Matura diamond'. It may also be associated with 'moissanite', another popular diamond substitute. Like sapphire and tourmaline, zircon is often traded using color descriptive names, such as blue zircon, golden zircon and white zircon. There are also some trade names used today for specific color zircon. Some popular names include 'hyacinth' - a historical name that has been used for yellow and golden colored zircon. Golden to red-brown zircon may also be traded as 'jacinth'. In some cases, heated blue zircon may be traded as 'starlight zircon'. 'Jargon' is another name which may refer to pale-yellow to near-colorless zircon. Green zircon is sometimes known as 'metamict zircon' and is actually quite rare. Zircon is an official birthstone for those who are born in December. It has been treasured since the Middle Ages and times of antiquity, although typically under various other historical names, such as jacinth and hyacinth. The name 'zircon' is thought to be derived from the Persian word "zargun" which means "gold-colored". Hindu poets wrote of the "kalpa tree", the ultimate gift to the gods, which was a glowing tree covered with gemstone fruit with leaves of zircon. In the middle ages, zircon was said to aid sleep, bring prosperity, and promote honor and wisdom in its owner. Since ancient times, it has been believed that the cosmos is reflected in gemstones. Zircon is assigned to the planet Pluto. Zircon is said to be of help for varicose veins, blisters and testicle problems.
Zircon is brittle and therefore is sensitive to knocks and pressure. However, it has good hardness and durability. The gem has the tendency to wear along facet edges owing to its brittle tenacity, so its use in zircon rings, should be limited to protective style settings or occasional wear jewelry. Most zircon stones are small in size, due to their dense nature, but some rare large stones can be found. Larger stones are excellent for bold designs, such as unique pendants or brooches. Blue zircon is very popular for rings and earrings, and colorless zircon is often used in bridal jewelry as a diamond substitute. Owing to its versatility in color availability, zircon gemstone jewelry can be ideal for both men's, women's and children's designs. Note: Buy colored gemstones by size and not by carat weight. Colored stones vary in size-to-weight ratio. Some stones are larger and others are smaller than diamonds by weight in comparison. If one considers fame the difference between the average and the exceptional, zircon indeed has some fame of its own. It is one of the densest gemstones, which means that it will look smaller than other gem types of the same weight. It is about 50% denser than diamond - if you have a diamond and a zircon of similar size, if the diamond weighs 1 carat, the zircon will weigh about 1.5 carats.
Always remove jewelry when engaging in any type of physical activity, including household chores, exercise or sports. It is best to store gems and jewelry separately from one another to prevent scratches and fractures. When storing zircon gemstones, it is best to wrap them in a soft cloth or place them inside a fabric-lined box. |
- First Published: January-25-2007
- Last Updated: January-03-2019
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