Zircon As A Jewelry Gemstone

This beautiful gemstone was once considered an economical, yet strikingly beautiful replacement for diamond and happens naturally in yellows, browns, leafy vegetable and can also be colorless. The colour is determined by the presence of respective Earth elements such as as U and Th and the presence of these radioactive elements can impact the crystal construction of the rock thereby changing the clarity. Blue and reddish rocks can happen naturally but are considered to be very rare and therefore highly prized. Modern methods of artificially treating brown, greenish or colorless stones, mostly by heating, bring forth beautiful sunglasses of bluish and red. Gem quality rocks are becoming harder to find. In recent years, zirconium silicate have fallen victim to misguided personal identity and have very often been confused with the synthetically manufactured and cheaper three-dimensional zirconia.

Properly cut and polished, these rocks emit a glare and lucidity that challengers many of the more than expensive gemstones. Though bluish zirconium silicate can be establish in nature, most of the bluish rocks for sale on the marketplace today are the consequence of heat energy treating. A relatively difficult stone, it do a lasting gemstone for most jewelry.

History

Zircons are establish in a broad assortment of locations around the human race including Scandinavia, the United States, Canada, Russia, and throughout Southeast Asia. The Arabic Language name for zircon, zar or gold, looks as early as the Center Ages. A piece of zirconium silicate is thought by some to be the oldest rock establish on the World and is estimated to be over four billion old age old.

Birthstone Information

Zircon have long been recognized as the birthstone for the calendar month of December. Blue zirconium silicate is considered a less expensive though certainly adequate replacement for bluish tanzanite which was recently added to the listing of December stones, sharing the award with turquoise.

New Age Beliefs and Powers Through The Ages

Like many other rocks and crystals with an ancient past, this rock is the material of myth and lore. The Center Ages were a clip when the blight or Black Death ravaged many parts of Europe and the Near East. Among its other healing and metaphysical properties, it was thought to protect the wearer from decease by the plague. Since many believed that travellers were responsible for spreading the plague, traveling while wearing zirconium silicate as an talisman this rock became an of import symbol of personal protection. Many people believed that the wearer would also be protected from hurt and other bad lucks while on their journey. Wearing this rock was thought to leave wisdom and award as well as ward off insomnia and other physical maladies.

Artificial Forms of Enhancement

Heat treating is a common method used to change the colour of these stones. Heating in the presence of O or other gases can bring forth fulgurant blue, deep redness and yellowish stones.

General Scientific Information

The chemical name ZrSiO4 Zr silicate

Hardness measurements 6.5 to 8.0 on the Mohs scale of measurement of measurement of measurement - the Mohs scale measurements the hardness of metals, minerals, gemstones and crystals on a scale of 1 to 10. For illustration the hardness places of most quartz glass crystals autumn around 7 on the scale, as makes steel and titanium. Diamond is the hardest known matter on the Mohs scale of measurement coming in at a difficult 10. To most consumers hardness generally reflects the rocks able to defy abrasions and cracks.

The cleavage of zirconium silicate is imperfect.

The index of refraction scopes from a low of 1.78 to a High of 2.01and generally bespeaks the pureness of the stone.

The specific gravitation scopes from a low of 3.9 to a high of 4.80.

The crystalline system is tetragonal.