Changes

'''Zircon''' is a mineral, gem, and birthstone.  It has a density of 4.7 grams/cm³.

'''Zircon''' is a mineral, gem, and birthstone.  It has a density of 4.7 grams/cm³.

Zircons are commercially mined for the metal [[zirconium]]. "More than 95% of current world production of zirconia and zirconium chemicals comes from processing of zircon. Zircon is processed in a number of locations world wide but [[China]] currently dominates supply of processed zirconium products and world output is around 96,000 tonnes." <ref>[http://www.alkane.com.au/projects/nsw/dubbo/DZP%20Summary%20June07.pdf The Dubbo Zirconia Project]</ref> Zircon is one of the three [[birthstone]]s for December; the other two are [[Tanzanite]] and [[Turquoise]]. <ref>[http://www.americangemsociety.org/birthstones.htm?gclid=CLu6o5CW-pACFRsTawodHiK31Q American Gem Society: Traditional Birthstones]</ref>   

Zircons are commercially mined for the metal [[zirconium]]. "More than 95% of current world production of zirconia and zirconium chemicals comes from processing of zircon. Zircon is processed in a number of locations world wide but [[China]] currently dominates supply of processed zirconium products and world output is around 96,000 tonnes." <ref>[http://www.alkane.com.au/projects/nsw/dubbo/DZP%20Summary%20June07.pdf The Dubbo Zirconia Project]</ref> Zircon is one of the three [[birthstone]]s for December; the other two are [[Tanzanite]] and [[Turquoise]].<ref>[http://www.americangemsociety.org/birthstones.htm?gclid=CLu6o5CW-pACFRsTawodHiK31Q American Gem Society: Traditional Birthstones]</ref>   

*"Zircon is often confused with [[Cubic Zirconia]]. Cubic Zirconia, a synthetic, inexpensive Diamond simulant, resembles colorless Zircon and has a similar sounding name. However, the two are totally separate materials, and have no connection with each other." <ref>[http://www.minerals.net/mineral/sort-met.hod/alphabet/abcdsort.htm Minerals.net]</ref>  

*"Zircon is often confused with [[Cubic Zirconia]]. Cubic Zirconia, a synthetic, inexpensive Diamond simulant, resembles colorless Zircon and has a similar sounding name. However, the two are totally separate materials, and have no connection with each other." <ref>[http://www.minerals.net/mineral/sort-met.hod/alphabet/abcdsort.htm Minerals.net]</ref>  

==Zircon and Creationism==

==Zircon and Creationism==

Zircon has recently become a subject of interest for [[Creationist]]s.  Studies of the rate at which radioactive particles in the zircon release [[helium]] have shown that the zircons found today contain far to much helium to be more than 14,000 years old. <ref>http://www.icr.org/pdf/research/Helium_ICC_7-22-03.pdf</ref>  This has been used to support the idea of a young Earth.

Zircon has recently become a subject of interest for [[Creationist]]s.  Studies of the rate at which radioactive particles in the zircon release [[helium]] have shown that the zircons found today contain far to much helium to be more than 14,000 years old.<ref>http://www.icr.org/pdf/research/Helium_ICC_7-22-03.pdf</ref>  This has been used to support the idea of a young Earth.

==References==

==References==

{{reflist|2}}

{{reflist|2}}

==External Links==

==External links==

*[http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/silicate/zircon/zircon.htm Amethyst Galleries]

*[http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/silicate/zircon/zircon.htm Amethyst Galleries]

*[http://www.mindat.org/min-4421.html Mindat.org]

*[http://www.mindat.org/min-4421.html Mindat.org]

*[http://www.minerals.net/mineral/sort-met.hod/alphabet/abcdsort.htm Minerals.net]

*[http://www.minerals.net/mineral/sort-met.hod/alphabet/abcdsort.htm Minerals.net]

[[Category: Birthstones]]

[[Category:Birthstones]]

[[Category:Gems]]

[[Category:Gems]]