What is the zircon

What is the zircon zircon, also known as "zircon", the Japanese call "hyacinth stone", the English name of Zircon. One source said it might be in Arabic "Zarkun" evolved on the basis, which means "cinnabar and vermilion"; another said that is derived from the ancient Persian "Zargun", meaning "golden." The first formal use of "Zircon" in 1783, used to describe the green from Sri Lanka zircon crystals.



The main components of zircon zirconium silicate, chemical formula Zr [SiO4], except the main Zirconium, but also often containing Hf, REE, niobium, tantalum, thorium. Divided by the causes of the high zircon-type low-type zircon and zircon. Jewelcrafting influence of radioactive elements in zircons based on refractive index, hardness, density, level and divide it into "high-type", "intermediate", "low types" of three. Zircon is tetragonal. Crystal form was composed of four columns and four double cone short columnar shape, aggregation grainy. Pure quality were colorless, with color impurities are red, yellow, blue, purple, brown, etc., the best color is colorless and transparent red and blue. With adamantine luster, transparent to translucent, streak white. Refractive index "high type" 1.925-1.984 "low type" 1.780-1.815. Birefringence "high type" 0.059, "low types" 0.005. "High type" Dispersion strong, 0.04. Hardness "high type" 7-7.5, "low types" 6. Density of "high type" 4.6-4.8 grams / cubic centimeter, "low types" 3.9-4.1 grams / cubic centimeter. A strong brittle. UV light, a "high type" zircon red fluorescence.



By color can be further divided into high-type zircon are as follows: colorless, blue, red, brown, yellow, green zircon, etc.. Because zircon strong luster, high dispersion, hardness more commonly used in the production of diamond substitutes. Has become a leader in middle and low precious stones.



Zircon gemstones with similar distinction. Easy and diamond zircon, sphene, synthetic rutile mixed. Their difference is: Diamonds are homogeneous, and in the polarizing microscope in the dark, hardness; sphene, synthetic rutile dual refractive index, high dispersion degree than zircon, are often "fire color."



Evaluation and selection of zircon. Factor is based primarily on color, clarity, cutting and grinding style and weight. Zircons of the most popular color is colorless and blue to blue are high value. Colorless Zircon: Zircon is a gem of the highest quality varieties, because of its high dispersion, transparent colorless diamond substitute used to do. Blue Zircon: Zircon is a high-quality varieties, the highest value, with bright blue, transparent, flawless and high dispersion Beishou popular. Zircon brittle, hardness much lower than the diamond, when worn as jewelry to be careful.



In the Western view, wearing red zircon hypnosis can play a role, you can drive away pestilence, defeat evil. Today some countries with zircon and turquoise as the "December birthstone," a symbol of success and victory. Zircon is a high type of early crystallization of magmatic minerals containing radioactive elements or less free, harmless to human body. The world's most famous blue zircon, weight 208 kt, are collected in the New York Museum of Natural History.



Gem zircon prolific in metamorphic rocks, basalt. The world's gem zircon mainly in Sri Lanka, Burma, Cambodia, Australia and other countries. China's South China, North China, East China are also output.