Zircon is an exotic stone in the jewelry world, and it looks like diamond. Besides its beauty and use in jewelry, this mineral shows important data about the origin of the Earth, because it is considered the oldest terrestrial material, and it can remain intact for years.

Zircon_joya_life_1

Zircon is composed of silicon, magnesium, oxygen and small amounts of uranium and thorium, belonging to the family of silicates. It originates from the crystallization of magnetic rocks. Given its composition, it needs heat treatment between 800-1000 degrees Celsius to remove residues of radioactive compounds (uranium and thorium).

Zircon_joya_life_2

Zircon’s final appearance can vary. It is clear in its pure state, but in some cases, it can be green, red, orange, violet, yellow and blue, depending on the impurities in it.

This stone abounds in different parts of the world, especially Cambodia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, South Africa and Thailand. They can be found in smaller amounts in France, Austria and the United States. Its name comes from the word “zarqun”, meaning ‘cinnabar’ in Arabic and ‘golden’ in Persian.

The first people to use zircon in jewelry designs were Italian goldsmiths in the sixth century. Today, we can see it in items such as rings, earrings, watches and accessories for brides.

Commonly, this popular stone can mimic the look of a diamond, thanks to its incredible brilliance. Only real diamonds are brighter than zircons.

For many years, lovers of gemstones have been captivated by the perfection of this unique mineral. This material is the only one that can produce an effect known as birefringence, in which a ray of light passing through the crystal is broken into two unequal waves, which will pass through at different speeds. This feature is a key to distinguish it from the diamond, which only generates one refraction, because light is reflected only once through its surface.

Zircon_joya_life_3

Zircon is a very heavy material compared to others used in jewelry, which implies that jewels made of this material deserve special care to avoid splinters and abrasions on the stone. In the world of industry, this material is also used as a raw material for the manufacture of special steels, jet engines and abrasives.

Enjoying the beauty of this mineral is relatively affordable compared to others in the world of jewelry. Although the clear version of it is the most popular, there are those who enjoy pieces of zircon in more colorful presentations, which are scarcer.

ALFA

One thought on “ZIRCON: A MINERAL THAT LOOKS LIKE DIAMOND

  1. Heather A. Lew says:

    One of my goals in life is to collect every precious and semi-precious mineral on existence… at least one specimen from each… I really loves jewels and collecting things is another hobby of mine…

Comments are closed.