zircon

Zircon is a common mineral whose colorless, transparent variety is used as a gemstone.

Zircon is most often opaque and can be reddish-brown, gray, green, or blue (the color of blue varieties is produced through heat treatment). Reddish-orange zircon is called hyacinth. A rare variety of zircon that can be yellowish, smoky, or colorless is called jargon. Some of zircon’s opaque varieties have practical applications, such as a refractory material for furnaces.

Zircon is sometimes called zirconium silicate and is the principal source of the metallic element zirconium.

Zircon is categorized as a semiprecious stone, which is a classification used for stones considered to have a lower value than those deemed precious.

Due to its similarity, zircon is sometimes used as a substitute for diamonds, which are much more expensive. It should not be confused with cubic zirconia, an artificially manufactured stone that is also used as a diamond substitute.

Zircon is one of the December birthstones. It is associated with the zodiac signs Sagitarrius and Capricorn.

Example: I didn’t want diamonds in my engagement ring, but I like a clear, natural stone, so I chose zircon.

The first records of the word zircon in English come from the late 1700s. It comes from the German Zirkon, from the French jargon, from the Persian zargūn, meaning “gold-colored.”

Zircon is found around the world. It occurs in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, and is especially found in sand. Zircon typically occurs in small crystals.

What are some synonyms for zircon?

• hyacinth (a reddish-orange variety of zircon)
• jargon (a yellowish, smoky, or colorless variety of zircon)

What are some words that share a root or word element with zircon? 

• zirconium
• zirconia

What are some words that often get used in discussing zircon?

• gem
• gemstone
• transparent
• mineral
• stone
• birthstone
• December
• Sagittarius
• Capricorn
• diamond

What are some words zircon may be commonly confused with?

• cubic zirconia

Transparent zircon is used as a substitute for diamonds, but artificial cubic zirconia is more popular as a diamond substitute.

Zircon and cubic zirconia are not the same. Zircon is a natural stone that has birefringence, meaning light travels through the stone at two difference speeds. This causes facets on the back of the stone to have a double-image. Photo: Robert Weldon/GIA, Courtesy: Artinian Gems. pic.twitter.com/DXxZEJ2TlP

— GIA (@GIAnews) December 4, 2020

Did you know? December birthstone Zircon has luster, intense fire, & range of color giving it a beauty that no other natural gem but diamond can surpass. The oldest known object on earth is a tiny fragment of the gemstone Zircon. 4.404 billion years old. pic.twitter.com/FZLa59g67N

— Jewelers Suite (@JewelersSuite) December 4, 2020

#Zircon's nice lustre, combined with good hardness, make it a desirable #gem. Natural Zircon with good colour and transparency is uncommon; most crystals are opaque and brownish. However, most Zircon gemstones, especially the blue and white forms, are enhanced by heat treatment. pic.twitter.com/AqEvjy3nfB

— Bowerbird Jewellery (@BowBrd) December 27, 2018

True or False?

The blue variety of zircon used as a gemstone gets its color from being heat treated.