Zircon
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." [1] Zircon is one of the three birthstones for December; the other two are Tanzanite and Turquoise. [2]
| Zircon | |
|---|---|
| |
| Chemical name | Zirconium silicate |
| Chemical formula | ZrSiO4 |
| Identification | |
| Colors | Colorless, yellow, grey, red, green, brown, black |
| Crystal habit | Dipyramidal prismatic |
| Crystal system | Tetragonal |
| Cleavage | Poor/Indistinct |
| Fracture | Conchoidal to uneven |
| Hardness | 7.5 |
| Name origin | The name comes from its containing the element, zirconium; which was named from the Arabic, zar and gun, meaning gold and color. |
| Specific gravity | 4.6–4.7 |
| Streak | White |
"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." [3] "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.[4] Zircon belongs to the Silicates mineral class.