Gem Profile- Zircon and Cubic Zirconia

by Judy Ellis

Last week we explored space and some space-age technology a little with Moissanite so this week we decided to come back to earth and talk about Zircon (zer-kone). This little gem is often under-rated because it sounds so similar to the man-made Cubic Zirconia, a young trendsetter in the gem world. Zircon and CZs are related in only the sound of their names, and that they both have zirconium as one of the chemical compounds. Zircon, which is chemically considered zirconium silicate, is classified as a nesosilicate and has a 7.5 hardness on Moh's Scale.

Zircon's Colors and Properties

Most zircon crystals are small and make up a major component of sand.

When crystals are large enough, they become beautiful gemstones.

Clear zircon, known as Matura Diamond in the trade, has a high refractive index that rivals diamond. Some jewelers have even mistaken it for diamond.

Zircon also occurs in blue, brown, pink, yellow, and green. These colors develop naturally through radiation decay in the crystals.

Because blue and clear zircons are especially popular, some gem suppliers heat or treat other shades to enhance their clarity and color.

Peggy Marzano used Blue and White Zircon stones in these cast earrings.

In the ancient world, zircon was called hyacinth, and some still use that name today. The colors associated with hyacinth include yellow, orange, and red.

So if someone shows you a hyacinth stone at a gem show, you now know it's a zircon.

Zircon isn't just a versatile gemstone; it also has fascinating geological properties.

It retains trace amounts of uranium, which decays at a known rate to lead.

Geologists use zircon crystals to date rocks by measuring the age of the zircon within a specimen.

This method is even more accurate than radiometric or carbon dating.

Using this technique, scientists discovered that the Jack Hills in Western Australia, which supply about 37% of the zircon on the market, are among the oldest minerals on Earth, dating nearly 4.4 billion years old.

Zircon in Culture

Zircon is generally regarded as a calming, peaceful stone.

It is said to promote inner peace, keep one centered, attract love, relieve stress, and clear the mind.

Colorless zircon was considered magical in ancient times. It was worn as a talisman for protection, healing injuries, and managing pain.

Zircon also appears in a Hindu poem about the Kalpa tree, where its leaves are described as zircon.

The stone is mentioned twice in the Bible: in the breastplate of Aaron in Exodus and as a foundation stone of Jerusalem in Revelation.

Depending on the translation, it may be called jacinth or hyacinth, alternate names for zircon referring to its color.

So What's Cubic Zirconia?

Some people confuse zircon with cubic zirconia, or CZ, but they are very different.

Cubic zirconia is a synthetic material often used as a diamond simulant.

It gets its name because it forms in cubic crystals of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2).

CZ stones are flawless, nearly as hard as diamond, and have similar fire and refraction.

Under UV light, a CZ will fluoresce, whereas a diamond will not.

Like moissanite, CZ is lab-created. Always remember, the correct term is cubic zirconia, not cubic zirconium.

Bess Walters wrapped this Alexandrite CZ stone in twisted silver-plated wire.

One note, for convenience here on Wirejewelry, we call CZs "stones" - as in, they are cut, lab-grown stones - but we try not to call them "gems," to avoid confusion with amethysts, topazes, and other naturally-grown gemstones. How you choose to describe them to your customers and friends is up to you!

CZs and Lasers: Gems Go High-Tech

Naturally occurring zirconium oxide, in the form of baddeleyite (BAD-y-lite), was discovered in 1892.

It was primarily used in the ceramics industry until lasers became important in the 1960s.

Lasers required inexpensive, single-crystal materials, prompting research in France and the former USSR to develop techniques for growing crystals.

Thirty years ago, laboratories produced about 50 million carats, or 22,000 pounds, of cubic zirconia annually imagine how many are made today for jewelry!

Cubic zirconia stones are valued not only for their hardness and perfection but also for the wide range of colors they can display.

Manufacturers create this rainbow of colors by adding specific coloring agents to the source material.

Much like flame tests in chemistry, the element added determines the final color of the crystal.

Blue Zircon-Colored Cubic Zirconia

Cubic Zirconia and the Metaphysical

Do cubic zirconia stones have metaphysical properties? Some sources suggest using CZ in meditation by focusing on the fire within the stone.

Others report using it for muscle fatigue relief and Reiki healing.

Most sites, however, classify clear CZ as neutral since it is man-made, with only trace energy coming from colored CZ depending on the minerals used.

Next time you see a fiery stone labeled zircon, don't confuse it with cubic zirconia.

They may sound similar, but they are very different in origin and creation.

Resources & Recommended Reading

Zircon and Hyacinth by Kunz on http://farlang.com
Zircon Gemstone on www.minerals.net
Zircon www.minerals.net
Mindat.org
Zircon on Wikipedia
Cubic Zirconia and Metaphysics on halfnotes.wordpress.com
Cubic Zirconia or Cubic Zirconium? on www.thoughtco.com
Cubic Zirconia on Wikipedia
Synthetic Cubic Zirconia on www.gemologyproject.com

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