Zirconia Zircon

[Jacque Waiden]

Zirconcan be processed to create zirconia by melting the sand at very high temperatures, typically above 2,600oC, in an electric arc furnace to form molten zirconia, also known as zirconium oxide (ZrO2). The cooled and crushed zirconia is then used in many different applications including in advanced ceramics and biomedical implants.

There is, of course, the more widely known cubic zirconia. Often referred to as a synthetic diamond, cubic zirconia has become a popular gemstone due to its optically clear single crystals and its high refractive index. Zirconia also occurs naturally as the mineral baddeleyite.

Zirconium, another derivative of zircon, is the chemical element Zr in the Periodic Table and takes the form of a silvery grey metal. It is typically produced by the reduction of the chemical zirconium oxychloride (ZOC), where the ZOC itself is produced by a complex process of chemical disassociation of zircon (zirconium silicate).

Used mainly as an alloy in the nuclear power industry, zirconium can also be added to aluminium alloys and steel to improve mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. Zirconium chemicals are used in a vast array of applications from catalysts to paper coatings and cosmetics.

Zircon has economic importance as a raw material in its own right and also as a feedstock for the manufacture of zirconia (zirconium dioxide), zirconium chemicals and zirconium metal. The geological processes that formed zircon led to the incorporation of radionuclides of natural origin into the crystal structure. The presence of these radionuclides is not significant enough to be of any commercial value, but creates a possible need to control exposures of workers and members of the public. This report provides detailed information on all the major industrial applications of zircon and zirconia, the processes involved, the management of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) residues arising from such processes, the radiological characteristics of the process materials, exposure pathways to workers and members of the public, exposure levels, annual effective doses, and examples of good practice with respect to monitoring techniques and practical measures to reduce doses. For each process or industrial application, the available information is used as the basis for assessing the regulatory implications in terms of the standards for radiation protection and management of radioactive waste.

We understand if it's difficult to differentiate zircon from synthetic cubic zirconia(CZ). While zircon and cubic zirconia have similar appearances and names, that's where the similarities end. Zircon and CZ are often mistakenly believed to be the same gemstone, however, the two do not share the same chemistry or crystal structure. To help you understand the differences between these two diamond simulants, here are a few facts about zircon and cubic zirconia.

Zircon is one of the oldest naturally occurring gemstones in the world, older even than diamond. One crystal found in Jack Hills, Australia was determined to be 4.375 billion years old! This ancient gemstone was also used by ancient people. There are several places in the Old Testament where zircon is mentioned, the most notable being in Exodus, described as one of the gems in the breastplate of Aaron.

Zircon has a Mohs Hardness of 6.5 - 7.5, a hardness similar to an unglazed porcelain bath tile or an amethyst. Zircon's diamond-like luster and tremendous fire have made colorless zircon a popular diamond simulant, as well as a December birthstone. Some zircons are even known to have a cat's-eye effect, and they come in a variety of colors. Zircon's many attributes make it a gem to cherish based on its own merits.

Cubic Zirconia (CZ) is one of the best-known, man-made diamond simulants. It is also a synthetic gemstone, possessing the same physical, optical and chemical properties as naturally occurring cubic zirconia, which was discovered in the 1930s as inclusions in a natural zircon crystal. Though the German mineralogists were excited about their find, the microscopic crystals were too small to ever be used in jewelry. As of today, no natural CZ exists in the marketplace.

A process to synthesize CZ became available in the 1970s and soon it became an extremely popular and affordable diamond simulant. CZ is typically free of inclusions but occasionally contains small gas bubbles or zirconium oxide, remnants of its growth in the laboratory. It has a Mohs hardness of 8.5; a hardness comparable to a masonry drill bit or slightly harder than a topaz. It's luster is like that of a diamond and comes in a variety of colors by adding different color-causing elements, producing gemstones such as synthetic sapphire cubic zirconia and synthetic ruby cubic zirconia, as well as many other colored gemstones.

So while zircon and synthetic cubic zirconia may appear to be the same stone and have similar, oft-confused names, they are vastly different stones. The most important difference to remember is that zircon is a naturally occurring mineral while CZ, even though it has been found in nature before, is a lab-created gemstone and is, therefore, not natural and not considered a mineral. Both of these gemstones are beautiful, convincing and affordable simulants for diamond.

Zircon and cubic zirconia are often confused because of their similar appearance and name. However, this is where the similarities end because these two gemstones are very different chemically, structurally, and optically. Continue reading for a few tips from Vibe on how to tell the difference between zircon and cubic zirconia.

Here at Vibe Jewelry, you will find that we use zircon in some of our pieces. The confusion around zircon and cubic zirconia being the same stone, has created an unfair reputation for zircon. Cubic zirconia is made from zirconium oxide and is considered to be a fake diamond simulant and, although pretty, it is a synthetic material. Zircon is made of zirconium silicate, which is another reason why these two gemstones get mixed up, despite consisting of completely different ingredients.

Since cubic zirconia is man-made and manipulated, it has a flawless finish. It appears to be much more opaque and has a high shine and sparkle. Zircon is transparent and is normally free of purities. This makes it a good choice for those who prefer a natural looking stone. Zircon has a realistic finish and is usually easy to point out in comparison.

Zircon is by far higher in value compared to cubic zirconia because of its natural properties. Although cubic zirconia is easier on the pockets, zircon will last a lifetime and be more valuable in the long run. Zircon also provides healing values to those that wear it. It is said to promote balance, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Many believe that connecting with the stone mentally can provide guidance and purpose to lead you to greater things!

Zircon is between 6-7.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness. That means it is a durable stone and makes a very suitable choice for jewelry. Zircon does well when exposed to sunlight and other natural lights. Although it is more delicate than cubic zirconia, it is considered to be, by far, a more precious gemstone.

The purest form of zircon is colorless, and called white zircon. If you are lucky you may also see pink, blue, yellow and green zircon. The rarest shade to find is green and it is also the most valuable. When looking at a zircon stone at different angles, it may show off different colors due to the presence of trace elements found within the stone.

Since cubic zirconia is lab created, the producers are able to completely control the final color of the stone. This is usually why cubic zirconia stones have a much more solid and opaque appearance. While it is often made colorless, it can also be found in pink, green, blue, black, orange and red.

Certain lighting will make each stone reflect differently. Zircon has a high sparkle and luster making it extremely reflective in the light. Also, because of the refractions in zircon, adding lighting can create an illusion of it having more facets than it actually does. Cubic zirconia does not come close to matching the brilliance of zircon. Zircon performs better under light and its luster lasts much longer than cubic zirconia.

If zircon is sounding more like your kind of stone, then you are in luck! At Vibe Jewelry, we use zircon in some of our best selling pieces. Shop our collection of styles with zircon gemstone options below!

In stores, we are often inundated by a flood of gold and silver jewelry which shine due to their clear or variously colored stones called zircons. In most cases however, these are actually cubic zirconias. In practice, the names of these two stones with a similar sounding name are often interchanged, but in reality they are two different stones that have very different origins, composition and value.

It might be surprising to some, but the oldest mineral on Earth is zirconium with the chemical composition of zirconium silicate (ZrSiO4). The first specimen of it was found in Australia and is estimated to be 4.4 billion years old. Zircon enjoyed considerable popularity in jewelry in the 1920s. The color range in which zircon occurs in nature is vast. The most common zircons come in yellow, red and brown shades and more rarely we might also encounter colorless and blue varieties. Due to their high brilliance, colorless zircons resemble diamonds, but in contrast to them, they are characterized by birefringence and have a hardness of 7.5 on the Mohs scale (compared to 10 for a diamond).

For many centuries, scientists have sought to create the closest possible replacement to diamonds. When the process of producing cubic zirconia was discovered in the 1970s, zirconia production spread throughout the world and became the most commonly used imitation diamond. The abbreviation CZ (cubic zirconia) has been adopted on the market and in addition to the colorless variety, cubic zirconias can have almost any color you can imagine. Although cubic zirconias have a little less brilliance and conversely more "fire" (color sparkle) than diamonds, at first glance they are indistinguishable from diamonds. However, if you are buying jewelry and choosing between a diamond and cubic zirconia, it is good to keep in mind that zirconia has a lower durability. After a zirconia has been worn for a while, it loses its luster, while a diamond still shines like new. This is because zirconia is 8.5 degrees on the hardness scale and thus softer than a diamond.

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