Eighteen interesting facts about Zircon
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| Zircon stone |
- Zircon is a mineral belonging to the group of nesosilicates.
- Two names have been given to zircon. One is «hyacinth», used for the red brown material, and the other is «jargoon» for the colorless to light yellow stones coming from Sri Lanka.
- Its chemical name is zirconium silicate and its corresponding chemical formula is ZrSiO4.
- Mohs scale hardness: 7.5
- The name zircon is of uncertain origin. It may have come to us from the Arabic «zarkun» meaning vermillon, or from the Persian «zargun», meaning gold colored.
- Colorless specimens that show gem quality are a popular substitute for diamond; these specimens are also known as "Matura diamond".
- In addition to zirconium, silicon and oxygen, zircon contains small quantities of rare earths and radioactive elements such as thorium and uranium. These inclusions give zircon differents hardnesses and properties.
- The name either derives from the Syriac word ܙܐܪܓܥܢܥ zargono, from the Arabic word zarqun (زرقون), meaning vermilion, or from the Persian zargun (زرگون), meaning golden-colored.
- In the Middle Ages, zircons were believed to induce sleep, as well as promote honor and wisdom. Zircon was believed to bring prosperity to its owner, moreover, zircon was thought to drive away plagues and evil spirits.
- Zircon is a remarkable mineral, if only for its almost ubiquitous presence in the crust of Earth. It occurs in igneous rocks (as primary crystallization products), in metamorphic rocks and in sedimentary rocks (as detrital grains).
- Zircon is available in a wide range of colors but the most popular color is blue.
- Although colorless zircon was used in history as a diamond simulant, it has nothing to do with the now popular cubic zirconia, or zirconium oxyde which is a laboratory grown material.
- Zircon is the birthstone for December, alternating with lapis lazuli.
- Zircons are commercially mined for the metal zirconium, and are used for abrasive and insulating purposes.
- It is the source of zirconium oxide (ZrO2), one of the most refractory materials known.
- Large specimens are appreciated as gemstones, owing to their high refractive index. (Zircon has a refractive index of approximately 1.95; diamond's is approximately 2.4.)
- Zircon is one of the key minerals used by geologists for geochronology .
- Zircon is a part of the ZTR index to classify highly-weathered sediments.
