Z
ZIRCON
Name: Some believe the source is the Persian word “zargun” or “gold colored”. Others believe it comes from the Arabic word “zarkun” meaning “cinnabar” or “vermilion”.
AKA: Zirconium Silicate. Hyacinth (orange or reddish-brown). Ceylon Diamond. Stone of Virtue.
Misnomers: Ceylon diamond.
Description: A natural gemstone with exceptional brilliance and a diamond-like luster. Because of this high dispersion and refractive index it was the world’s premier diamond alternative for centuries. Green Zircon emits some level of natural radioactivity.
Zircon is NOT Cubic Zirconia (CZ). Zircon is a natural ancient gemstone from the earth whereas the cubic zirconia is a lab-grown synthetic. If you are looking at a stone under a loupe and you see “double refraction” (the back facets look like they are doubled/blurry), it’s a Zircon. If the facets look perfectly sharp and singular it is not a zircon.
Chemical Composition: ZrSiO4
Color: comes in almost every color of the spectrum: colorless, blue, greenish blue, green, grayish green, yellowish green, yellow, orange, red, brown, brown-red, purple, gray; brownish-red to brownish-yellow. Today, blue is the most popular color.
Treatments: Heat produces colorless, blue, yellow, orange, or red from brown material. Generally stable, but some stones revert when exposed to UV light and/or heat. Routine. Almost all blue or colorless zircons are treated. Undetectable, but usually assumed due to prevalence.
Moh’s Hardness: 6 to 7.5.
Toughness: fair to poor; heat-treated stones can be brittle and might be easily abraded. Untreated stones are fair to good. Heated stones are poor to fair, chip and abrade easily. Faceted edges can chip and wear down.
Location Found: East Africa; Australia; Brazil; Cambodia; Canada (Renfrew); China; France; Madagascar (Betroka); Myanmar (Burma); Sri Lanka; Tanzania; Thailand; Vietnam.
Birthstone: December (blue).
Wedding Anniversaries: 2nd; 4th (blue).
Zodiac Signs: Leo. Sagittarius. Taurus. Virgo.
Chakra Associations: all, varies by color; Root (red, brown); Solar Plexus (yellow); Throat (blue).
Historical Associations: drive away evil spirits; promote riches; honor; wisdom; innocence; purity; constancy; induces sound sleep; increased life force; precise focus; stimulate sluggish energy in meridians; spiritual protection; psychic abilities are energized; other realms of conscious understanding; balancing the mundane with the spiritual; intuitive information; bringing your highest dreams into reality; promotes unions; deity; Kalpa Tree; wishes fulfilled; healthy delivery for the mother; grounding; return to center; merchant’s stone; success in trade and commerce; self-worth; self-respect; ability to distinguish between truth and deception.
Historically Used to Treat: sleeplessness; insomnia; cleanse toxins from the system; detoxification; sciatic nerve; nerve structures; increase bone stability; vertigo; mending of bones; mending of muscles; poison; plagues; Black Death; varicose veins; blood flow; swelling of legs; labor pain; wasting diseases; appetite loss; mental fog.
Care: High heat can alter color. General light stable; some heat-treated stones revert to their original color (light brown). Avoid hash household acids. Steam cleaning is risky and should be avoided because zircon is sensitive to thermal shock. Ultrasonic cleaner should be avoided due to the high risk of fracturing due to the vibrations of the cleaner. Warm, soapy water and a soft brush are safe. Store in its own padded slot, pouch, or box as it has a high risk for abrasion.
Imitations: Cubic zirconia (CZ); Glass; Synthetic sapphire; Synthetic spinel; Diamond.
Synthetics: No commercial synthetic.
Alternatives: Almandite garnet; Amethyst; Aquamarine; Chrysoberyl; Citrine; Demantoid garnet; Fire opal; Hessonite garnet; Kunzite; Malaya garnet; Peridot; Pyrope garnet; Rhodolite garnet; Ruby; Sapphire; Spessartite garnet; Spinel; Topaz; Tourmaline.