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|nameorigin=The name comes from its containing the element, ''zirconium''; which was named from the Arabic, ''zar'' and ''gun'', meaning gold and color.
|nameorigin=The name comes from its containing the element, ''zirconium''; which was named from the Arabic, ''zar'' and ''gun'', meaning gold and color.
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'''Zircon''' is a mineral, gem, and birthstone. 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 resembles [[diamond]] in [[luster]] and fire and colorless zircons have been mistaken for diamonds by experienced jewelers." Notable occurances are located in Seiland, [[Norway]]; [[Pakistan]]; [[Russia]]; Bancroft and Sudbury, [[Ontario]], [[Canada]] and [[New Jersey]] and [[Colorado]], USA.<ref>[http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/silicate/zircon/zircon.htm Mineral galleries]</ref> Zircon belongs to the [[Silicates]] mineral class.
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External Links==
*[http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/silicate/zircon/zircon.htm Amethyst Galleries]
*[http://www.mindat.org/min-4421.html Mindat.org]
*[http://webmineral.com/data/Zircon.shtml Webmineral - Zircon]
*[http://www.minerals.net/mineral/sort-met.hod/alphabet/abcdsort.htm Minerals.net]
[[Category: Birthstones]]
[[Category:Gems]]