Zircon

This article is about the mineral and gemstone. For other uses, see Zircon (disambiguation).

Zircon
A lustrous crystal of zircon perched on a tan matrix of calcite from the Gilgit District of Pakistan
General
CategoryNesosilicates
Formula
(repeating unit)		zirconium silicate (ZrSiO4)
IMA symbolZrn[1]
Strunz classification9.AD.30
Crystal systemTetragonal
Crystal classDitetragonal dipyramidal (4/mmm)
H-M symbol: (4/m 2/m 2/m)
Space groupI41/amd (No. 141)
Unit cella = 6.607(1), c = 5.982(1) [Å]; Z = 4
Identification
ColorReddish brown, yellow, green, blue, gray, colorless; in thin section, colorless to pale brown
Crystal habittabular to prismatic crystals, irregular grains, massive
TwinningOn {101}. Crystals shocked by meteorite impact show polysynthetic twins on {112}
Cleavage{110} and {111}
FractureConchoidal to uneven
TenacityBrittle
Mohs scale hardness7.5
LusterVitreous to adamantine; greasy when metamict.
StreakWhite
DiaphaneityTransparent to opaque
Specific gravity4.6–4.7
Optical propertiesUniaxial (+)
Refractive indexnω = 1.925–1.961
nε = 1.980–2.015, 1.75 when metamict
Birefringenceδ = 0.047–0.055
PleochroismWeak
Fusibilityclose to 2,550 °C depend on Hf,Th,U,H,etc... concentrations.
SolubilityInsoluble
Other characteristicsFluorescent and radioactive,
May form pleochroic halos,
Relief: high
References[2][3][4][5][6]

Zircon (/ˈzɜːrkɒn, -kən/)[7][8][9] 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 varies between colorless, yellow-golden, red, brown, blue, and green.

The name derives from the Persian zargun, meaning "gold-hued".[10] This word is changed into "jargoon", a term applied to light-colored zircons. The English word "zircon" is derived from Zirkon, which is the German adaptation of this word.[11] Yellow, orange, and red zircon is also known as "hyacinth",[12] from the flower hyacinthus, whose name is of Ancient Greek origin.

  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ Anthony, John W.; Bideaux, Richard A.; Bladh, Kenneth W.; Nichols, Monte C., eds. (1995). "Zircon" (PDF). Handbook of Mineralogy. Vol. II (Silica, Silicates). Chantilly, VA, US: Mineralogical Society of America. ISBN 978-0962209710.
  3. ^ "Zircon: Mineral information, data and localities". Mindat.org. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  4. ^ "Zircon Mineral Data". Webmineral. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  5. ^ Hurlbut, Cornelius S.; Klein, Cornelis (1985). Manual of Mineralogy (20th ed.). ISBN 0-471-80580-7.
  6. ^ Erickson, Timmons M.; Cavosie, Aaron J.; Moser, Desmond E.; et al. (2013). "Correlating planar microstructures in shocked zircon from the Vredefort Dome at multiple scales: Crystallographic modeling, external and internal imaging, and EBSD structural analysis" (PDF). American Mineralogist. 98 (1). Abstract: 53–65. Bibcode:2013AmMin..98...53E. doi:10.2138/am.2013.4165. S2CID 67779734.
  7. ^ "zircon". CollinsDictionary.com. HarperCollins. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  8. ^ "zircon". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (5th ed.). HarperCollins.
  9. ^ "zircon". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  10. ^ Stwertka, Albert (1996). A Guide to the Elements. Oxford University Press. pp. 117–119. ISBN 978-0-19-508083-4.
  11. ^ Harper, Douglas. "zircon". Online Etymology Dictionary.
  12. ^ "Hyacinth (gem)". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. Retrieved October 7, 2016.