Zircon
| Colour | Clear, Brown, Blue, Red, Yellow, Green |
|---|---|
| Mohs hardness | 7.5 |
| Lustre | Vitreous to adamantine; greasy when metamict |
| Streak | White |
| Crystal system | Tetragonal |
| Transparency | Transparent to opaque |
| Cleavage | {110} and {111} |
| Fracture | Conchoidal to uneven |
| Chemical formula | zirconium silicate |
| Specific gravity | 4.6–4.7 |
What is Zircon?
Zircon is a mineral belonging to the group of nesosilicates and is a source of the metal zirconium. Its chemical name is zirconium(IV) silicate, and its corresponding chemical formula is ZrSiO4. An empirical formula showing some of the range of substitution in zircon is (Zr1–y, REEy)(SiO4)1–x(OH)4x–y. Zircon precipitates from silicate melts and has relatively high concentrations of high field strength incompatible elements. For example, hafnium is almost always present in quantities ranging from 1 to 4%. The crystal structure of zircon is tetragonal crystal system. The natural color of zircon
How to identify Zircon
- Lustre: Vitreous to adamantine; greasy when metamict.
- Hardness: Mohs 7.5 — hard enough to scratch glass.
- Streak: White.
- Habit: Tetragonal crystal system.
Zircon in different forms
Stones often confused with Zircon
Frequently asked questions
How hard is Zircon?
Zircon is Mohs 7.5 on the hardness scale.
What colour is Zircon?
Zircon is typically clear, brown, blue, red, yellow, green (Reddish brown, yellow, green, blue, gray, colorless; in thin section, colorless to pale brown).