As the oldest stone on earth, the zircon was once considered an alternative for the diamond. According to the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA), "In the Middle Ages, zircon was said to aid sleep, bring prosperity, and promote honor and wisdom in its owner." In more recent times, the cheaper, man-made, cubic zirconia has replaced the popularity of the zircon. Jewelry enthusiasts may want to reconsider the zircon as a collector's item for its wide range of color, brilliance and quality.
Facts
Zircon is a mineral that is made up of zirconium silicate and is often used as a gemstone. The name is believed to have come from the Persian word zargun, which means "gold-colored" or jargoon, which is the name given to certain varieties of zircon. Zircons from different localities have a wide range of color, from colorless to the primary colors and all colors in between. It was once suggested to call the zircon "polycrasilite," which is Greek for "many mixture," since the zircon often contains many trace elements.
History
As the ICA states, "Hindu poets tell of the Kalpa Tree, the ultimate gift to the gods, a glowing tree covered in gemstone fruit with leaves of zircon." The oldest known object on earth is a tiny zircon that was located in Western Australia and is 4.404 billion years old, claims the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA). Zircon was also found in a meteorite in Chile and was an estimated 4.6 billion years old. Lyncurium, an ancient stone used for signets, is considered to have been either zircon or amber.
Types
A "noble" or "precious" zircon is zircon that is of gemstone quality. Hyacinth and jacinth are red and orange zircons. Azurite is a type of zircon that is found in the Azores. Other minerals which appear to be altered zircon are malacon, cyrtolite and oerstedite. Auerbachite is closely related to zircon and is found in Russia. Often mistaken for the zircon, cubic zirconia is a man-made mineral that is a cheap imitation of diamond and was discovered in 1937. The Blue Zircon is an alternative birthstone for December.
Geography
Zircon can often be found with sapphires in Western Australia. Zircon can also be found in Norway, the Rhine area, Central France, Russia, Canada and Tasmania. Zircon is frequently mined in Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Thailand. In the United States, Zircon can be located in New York and North Carolina.
Identification
Rarely free of color, natural zircon is typically red, brown, orange, green and yellow and all colors in between. While zircon is generally opaque, the gemstone is transparent. When exposed to high heat, the zircon may lose or change its color but it gains brilliance. Most gem quality zircons have been heat treated. Exposure to sunlight may even cause this change in color. Zircon commonly is found with other stones, such as granite, sapphire and limestone. Its hardness on the Mohs scale is about 7.5.
Tags: zircon that, also found, billion years, change color, colors between, cubic zirconia
