Gemstones, Diamonds, Pearls - Multicolour.com
My Shopping Cart My Account Gem Library
|Welcome to Multicolour.com|Single Stones|Calibrated Stones|Pairs|Mix Lots|Closeouts|Carved Gems|lapidary and gemological tools and supplies|Gem Smart Search|
Home / Gem Library / Gemstones Varieties / Zircon December 05, 2024

Natural Zircon

Zircon is known for its distinctive beauty and occurrence in a broad range of colors. It can be blue, green, colorless, brown, red, orange or yellow. The most popular color is blue and it is considered to be an alternative birthstone for December. Because of its similarity to diamond, colorless zircons have also been popular for years.


Find your Zircon

Our Zircon(s) are available in various shapes, sizes and colors. 334 Zircon(s), too many to look through? You may select any combination of search options. Colors grade into each other and you can search for more than one color at once. For a better selection, try selecting two or three colors, -- your first choice plus the two closest colors.

Shape Length (mm) Width (mm)
Category Weight (cts) Price (USD)
Color range
orangy red
strongly yellowish green
red-orange or orange-red
yellowish green
orange
very strongly greenish blue
yellowish orange
greenish blue
orangy yellow
blue
yellow
red-purple or purple-red
greenish yellow
slightly purplish red
yellow-green or green-yellow





Zircon Profile

Color information: Brown, blue, red, orange, white, green
Refractive Index: 1.780-1.980
Chemical Composition: ZrSiO4
Hardness: 7-7.50
Density: 3.95-4.80
Crystal Group: Tetragonal
Ocurrence: Ceylon, Burma,France, Norway, East Africa,Australia, SE Asia.
Sign of the Zodiac: N/A
Month of the year: N/A
Anniversary: 11th year
Zircon Zircon Zircon Zircon Zircon
Zircon is a relatively hard stone with a hardness of 7-7.5. Its high specific gravity (4 – 4.73), makes it easy to identify and few gemstones are as dense. Experienced buyers can identify zircons by heft alone. Because of its high refractive index, zircon can be exceptionally brilliant. It is also prominently doubly refractive with a high birefringence of .059. Because of this, faceted zircons are easy to identify because of the doubling of the facet junctions. Indeed the doubling is pronounced and the stones can be challenging to photograph as they may never appear focused.

Zircon has sustained the interest of gemologists for years owing to its variation of specific gravity and refractive indices. The composition of the mineral is a silicate of zirconium (ZrSIO4). Zircon forms mixed crystals with the uranium mineral coffinite and the thorium mineral thorite. In some specimens, the alpha particles from uranium and thorium have partly or wholly broken down the lattice of the zircon. Where the lattice has been broken down or degenerated from the crystalline state the stones are virtually amorphous and known as metamict. Depending on the degree of degeneration, some of the stones do not even respond as tetragonal minerals and under a polariscope will behave as singly refractive stones. Where the degenerative process has not begun (or may be little advanced, the term ‘high zircon’ is used). Intermediate stages between high and metamict zircon are also common.

Most interesting is the influence of heat on different types of zircon. Both the low and intermediate types tend to increase in density to the normal S.G. of around 4.70 upon heating to 1450 degrees C. The heating causes the dissociated silica to recombine as crystalline zircon.

Sri Lankan zircons are mostly yellow or green. The green stones are mostly of the low or intermediate type and upon heating to a dull red heat for about 1 hour they become much paler. However, the most important and dramatic heat treatment of zircons is carried out on the reddish brown crystals from Vietnam and Cambodia. The stones can be heated to an electric sky blue and the color is normally permanent. Some of these stones are also heated to white and used as substitutes for diamonds in some kinds of jewelry.

Other kinds of zircon notably the brownish honey colored stones from East Africa become a beautiful bright orange upon heating on a simple gas furnace for only one minute . Unfortunately, the color is not permanent and the stones will turn to a dingy yellowish grey after short exposure to sunlight. After a few days, these stone will revert to their original color.

Less known are the tenebrescent properties of some zircons. Also known as reversible photochromism, tenebrescence refers to the ability of minerals to change color when exposed to the natural radiation in sunlight. Studies of West African zircons dark brown zircons showed them to change to white upon high temperature heating. In sunlight the heated stones slowly became a dingy gray in a few days but then, after a few months in total darkness, they became very slightly pink. These stones are problematic to sell as one can never know what they will look like on any given day. Other tenebrescent minerals include hackmanite sodalite, spodumene, tugtupite, and natural yellow Sri Lanka sapphires.

Natural zircon is often confused with cubic zirconia, a laboratory-grown diamond stimulant. Natural zircon and cubic zirconia are totally unrelated, zircon is a naturally occurring gemstone while cubic zirconia is a synthetic.

Zircon is mined in Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Australia, Vietnam, Tanzania, and Madagascar. The best blue zircons are from Cambodia and they have been heated to produce that color. The wide variety of colours of zircon, its rarity, and its relatively low cost make it a popular collector's stone.

Zircon is a stone of purity and innocence. It balances the emotions and enhances self esteem and unity. Was used as an amulet by travellers to protect against accident and injury on the journey. It was also used to stop the wearer from being stuck by lightening. Hindu poets tell of the Kalpa Tree, the ultimate gift to the gods, which was a glowing tree covered with gemstone fruit with leaves of zircon. Zircon has long had a supporting role to more well-known gemstones, often stepping in as an understudy when they were unavailable. In the middle ages, zircon was said to aid sleep, bring prosperity, and promote honor and wisdom in its owner. The name zircon is said to have been derived from the word zargoon which in Arabic means vermillion and in Persian gold-colored.

Looking for other Gemstones?

Search Gems by Color | Advance Search | Step-by-Step Search Wizard

Search/
Search for:
Search Site Gems
Enter keywords or item #. (i.e ruby or YDFG97a).
Shopping Cart: Empty

Zircon range/
Zircon Single
Zircon Single Oval Slightly included
Size: 16.60 X 11.10 MM
Weight: 15.430 CTS
Shape: Oval
Clarity: Slightly included
Usually ships within 24 hours
RECOMMENDED
OUR PRICE
USD 3333.00
Add to Shopping Cart Save For Later

Zircon Calibrated
Zircon Calibrated Round Eye clean to Slightly included
Size: 4.00 X 4.00 MM
Weight: 0.337 CTS
Shape: Round
Clarity: Eye clean to Slightly included
Usually ships within 24 hours
RECOMMENDED
OUR PRICE
USD 4.04
Add to Shopping Cart Save For Later


Gem Library/
Gems Legend and  Lore Gems Legend and Lore
Some of the latest of ways that gems have been associated with Birthstones and Signs of the Zodiac.
Understanding Gemstones Understanding Gemstones
Learn about Physical and Optical properties, color, clarity and cut of gemstones.
Gems Glossary Gems Glossary
Ever wonder what are "Blemish", "Luster", "Saturation" "Uniformity" or "Mine Run" means?
Reference and  Links Reference and Links
Recommended books and links to Gem, Jewelry&Mineral Magazines, Gem Institutes and Labs.

 Top of Page Need help?  

Gemstones for sale: Alexandrite, Garnet, Diamond, Opal, Spinel, Sapphire, Tourmaline, Tanzanite, Tsavorite,
Gemstones by Category: Calibrated, Carving, Closeout, Jewelry, Mixed Lot, Pair, Rough, Single, Best Sellers or Featured Gemstones.
Gemstone education: Colored Gemstones Guide, Gems Library, Gemstone Treatments, Gemstone Glossary, Gems and Astrology,

All Transactions secure by Thawte certificate - click here to validate Ebay Power Seller Gem Certification Various Shipping Options Major Credit Cards Accepted

All trademarks and logos shown herein are the property of their respective owners. © Copyright Multicolour.com, 1998-2011. All rights reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of Multicolour.com Return Policy, Privacy Policy and Trading Guarantee. Published and operated by David Wein Ltd. 32 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong Island Hong Kong. Lost? Check site map or resources page.

Site design and maintenance by NetComposite ®.