Zircon

Zircon is a natural stone often used to imitate diamonds. It is often confused with cubic zirconia which is a synthetic stone.

General Information

Zircon is a famous gem of many colours, known for hundreds of years for its lustre and fire. It is often looked upon as a cheap diamond stimulant, but is, in fact, a valuable gem. Its colour diversity is caused by traces of certain elements, some of which are radioactive. Zircons containing radioactive elements undergo a process called metamiction, in which their inner crystal structure becomes destroyed. These radioactive forms of zircon must be heated to stabilize them for use as gems. In fact, almost all gem forms of zircon (even those that are not radioactive) are heat-treated to enhance their colour. Heating semi-transparent, greyish-brown or reddish-brown zircons from most localities in an oxygen-free environment gives them a blue colour. If these blue stones are then re-heated in air, their colour turns golden-brown. Heat-treatment of certain zircons also produces colourless gems.

The brilliant lustre and fire of zircon, combined with its hardness and range of colours makes it a most desirable gem. However, it does have some undesirable traits. An interesting and strange habit exhibited in only few zircons is that their colour darkens and their lustre dulls upon prolonged exposure to sunlight. This effect can be reversed by giving the stones a second heat-treatment. It is also prone to cracking and chipping if banged too hard. For this reason, care must be taken when cutting zircon. Zircon must also be cut in a manner in which its strong double refraction is least noticeable, to prevent it from appearing blurry

Brown Zircon is usually heat treated to change them to colourless or blue Zircon. Blue stones that revert to brown will regain the blue if reheated. Blue Zircon reheated in the presence of oxygen will change to a golden yellow.

Zircon will have more wear on its facets than diamond. Zircon is imitated by colourless glass and synthetic spinel.

Where Zircon is mined

There are many places this mineral is found. Some noteworthy European localities are Alta Fjord, Seiland Island, Norway; the Tyrol, Austria; the Eiffel Mountains of Germany; and the Ural Mountains of Russia.
The worlds most industrially important deposits are in the heavy sands of Queensland, Australia. Most gem grade Zircon comes from several eastern Asian countries, where it is found in placer deposits as rounded water worn stones, often associated with other gem materials. These countries are Sri Lanka (Mynamar), Burma (Ceylon), Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. In Madagascar, several localities have yielded large crystals, and some very large crystals have come from Jaguaracu and Pocos de Caldas,
Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Canada contains many excellent localities for this mineral. Enormous crystals, up to a foot long in a few cases, have been found in Renfrew Co., Ontario. Large crystals also come from Bancroft and Dunngannon, Hastings Co., Ontario, and transparent pink crystals were found in the McLaren Mine, near
Perth, Ontario. Large, well formed crystals are famous from Tory Hill, Wilberforce, Haliburton Co.,
Ontario. Zircon associated with Aegirine occurs in Mont Saint Hilaire, Quebec. 
In the U.S., Zircon is found as small, occasionally transparent pebbles on the beach sands of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Perfect, loose crystals are found in the gravel in Henderson Co., North Carolina, and shiny black crystals were discovered in the Eureka Tunnel, St. Peters Dome, El Paso Co., Colorado. Other famous U.S. localities are Sparta, Franklin, and Ogdensburg, Sussex Co., New Jersey; and Bedford, Westchester Co., New York.

Anniversary Gemstone for Zircon

Zircon is not an anniversary gemstone.  

Zircon Mystical Properties

Zircon supposedly helps one be more at peace with oneself.

More Zircon Lore

Zircon was believed to provide the wearer with wisdom, honour and riches.

The lost of lustre on a Zircon stone is said to warn of danger.

The name Zircon is from Zargun which means "gold colour".