Zircon

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Can you help make this a better article? What good localities have we missed? Can you supply pictures of better specimens than those we show here? Can you give us more and better information about the specimens from these localities? Can you supply better geological or historical information on these localities?


Zircon
ZrSiO₄ tetragonal


Here will go a general description of the various kinds of zircon specimens etc, a bit of their mineralogy geology and history but for whoever writes this article, I hope they will include the following.

Zircon is considered by many people to be perhaps the most durable and long lasting of all the minerals found in the earths crust. The following was written by Peter Nancarrow in response to a query on one of the Mindat bulletin board forums.

"Weathering" covers a variety of decomposition processes, including water solution, acid rain attack, organic processes (e.g. action of products of leaf decay, lichen digestion etc.) freeze/thaw, solar heating etc, and a mineral that is resistant to one or other or even any chemical attack, may not be resistant to a mechanical process such as rapid thermal expansion. I am not considering brittleness or abrasion resistance here; the effects on particles of being ground about by a glacier or between boulders in a scree, being rolled along a stream bed, or washed about on a beach are not weathering processes sensu stricto; those processes come under the heading "erosion" rather than "weathering".

The latter is defined as "The process by which rocks are broken down and decomposed by the action of external agencies such as wind, rain, temperature changes, plants, and bacteria. . . . An essential feature of the process is that it affects rocks in situ; no transportation is involved. This is the factor which distinguishes it cleary from erosion." (Whiten & Brooks, 1972).

I am reminded of the occasion when I was working in the X-ray analysis section of a geochemical laboratory, and one of our analysts brought me a specimen to be identified. He had been trying to get a sample of granite into solution for a whole-rock analysis, to include those elements which could not be measured by XRF, particularly Be & Li, but he was left with a small residue of fine sandy pink material in the bottom a test tube which he had been unable to dissolve, even in superheated concentrated HF! (Using a teflon "bomb" in a high-pressure autoclave). Everything else, all the quartz, topaz, tourmaline, cassiterite etc., was gone. Under the microscope I could see that the sample consisted of lustrous tetragonal crystals with absolutely no indication of even the first stages of solvent attack; they had sharp-pointed terminations and crystal edges and bright lustrous faces with no etching features. The only pitting could be attributed to the solution of what had been exposed inclusions embedded in the crystal faces, but even these apparent weaknesses in the integrity of the crystal surfaces had not let one of the most corrosive of acids do its work.

Yes, you guessed right; that concentrate consisted of zircon, and nothing but zircon!

So, all those factors considered, I would certainly have to agree that my vote for the mineral "most resistant to weathering" would certainly be for zircon. As regards its subsequent resistance to erosive processes, it's pretty hard, (Mohs 71/2) and not particularly brittle either; I just put a zircon crystal on an anvil and hit it several times with a hammer! It took a rather harder blow to crack it than would be required for a similarly sized quartz crystal.
[Peter Nancarrow]



Some of the better zircon images on Mindat
Austria
Aigner Alp, Schellgaden, Murwinkel, Lungau, Salzburg, Austria
[www.mindat.org]

Brazil
hGoiás, Central-West Region, Brazil
[www.mindat.org]

The only 2 correct localities for the Brazilian zircons are:

- Peixe alkhaline complex, Tocantins state (I am not sure about Natividade, Peixe alkhaline complex; I will check if Natividade is the right name of the city where the alkhaline complex is located)

- Poços (should be pronounced "possos" de Caldas, Minas Gerais - it is also a big alkhaline complex

All others are 100% wrong; it is crazy, some are coimpletely absurd, like Sapucaia mine, Campos Verdes de Goiás and Brumado; all these specimens came from Peixe; Poços de Caldas complex was mined from the 1940's until the late 1980's for zirconium ore but now all mines are closed.

Luiz



Campos Verdes, Santa Terezinha de Goiás District, Goiás, Central-West Region, Brazil
[www.mindat.org]

Peixe alkaline complex, Tocantins, North Region, Brazil
[www.mindat.org]

Natividade, Peixe alkaline complex, Tocantins, North Region, Brazil
[www.mindat.org]

Brumado (Bom Jesus dos Meiras), Bahia, Northeast Region, Brazil
[www.mindat.org]

Sapucaia Mine, Sapucaia do Norte, Galiléia, Doce valley, Minas Gerais, Southeast Region, Brazil
[www.mindat.org]

Poços de Caldas, Poços de Caldas plateau, Minas Gerais, Southeast Region, Brazil
[www.mindat.org]

Burma (Myanmar)
[www.mindat.org]

Mogok, Sagaing District, Mandalay Division, Burma (Myanmar)
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]


Canada
Davis Quarry, Dungannon Township, Bancroft District, Hastings Co., Ontario, Canada
[www.mindat.org]

Silver Crater Mine (Basin Property), Faraday Township, Bancroft District, Hastings Co., Ontario, Canada
[www.mindat.org]

Hybla, Monteagle Township, Bancroft District, Hastings Co., Ontario, Canada
[www.mindat.org]

MacDonald mine, Hybla, Monteagle Township, Bancroft District, Hastings Co., Ontario, Canada
[www.mindat.org]

Poudrette quarry (Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Desourdy quarry), Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville Co., Québec, Canada
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Kipawa alkaline complex, Sheffield Lake, Villedieu Township, Témiscamingue Co., Québec, Canada
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

France
Métou brook alluvials, Vergonzac, Siaugues-Sainte-Marie, Langeac, Haute-Loire, Auvergne, France
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Riou Pezzouliou alluvials, Espaly-Saint-Marcel, Le Puy-en-Velay, Haute-Loire, Auvergne, France
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Buges brook alluvials, Perpezat, Rochefort-Montagne, Puy-de-Dôme, Auvergne, France
[www.mindat.org]

Monne river alluvials, Les Arnats, Le Vernet-Sainte-Marguerite, Saint-Amant-Tallende, Puy-de-Dôme, Auvergne, France
[www.mindat.org]

Germany
Laach lake volcanic complex, Eifel Mts, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

In den Dellen quarries, Niedermendig, Mendig, Laach lake volcanic complex, Eifel Mts, Rhineland-Palatinate, German
[www.mindat.org]

Caspar quarry, Bellerberg volcano, Ettringen, Mayen, Eifel Mts, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Greenland
Kangerdluarssuq (Kangerdluarssuk; Kangerdluarsuk) Firth, Ilimaussaq complex, Narsaq, Kitaa (West Greenland) Province, Greenland
[www.mindat.org]


Italy
Monte Somma, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples Province, Campania, Italy
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Pollena - Trocchia area, Monte Somma, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples Province, Campania, Italy
[www.mindat.org]

Sacrofano Caldera, Sacrofano, Campagnano di Roma, Rome Province, Latium, Italy
[www.mindat.org]

Mezzano, Valentano, Viterbo Province, Latium, Italy
[www.mindat.org]

Tre Croci, Vetralla, Vico Lake, Viterbo Province, Latium, Italy
[www.mindat.org]

Cuzzago Mine, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province, Piedmont, Italy
[www.mindat.org]

Burgum Alp, Vizze Valley (Pfitsch valley), Bolzano Province (South Tyrol), Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Toal d'Allochèt (Alochet), Monzoni Mts, Fassa Valley, Trento Province, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy
[www.mindat.org]

Contrada Cubi, Staro, Valli del Pasubio, Vicenza province, Veneto, Italy
[www.mindat.org]

Madagascar
Ambatofotsy pegmatite, Mahavelona Commune, Soavinandriana Department, Itasy Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
[www.mindat.org]

Ampasipoana pegmatite, Mahavelona Commune, Soavinandriana Department, Itasy Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
[www.mindat.org]

Ambatofotsikely pegmatite, Fidirana Commune, Betafo Department, Vakinankaratra Region (Betafo - Antsirabé region), Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
[www.mindat.org]

Betroka Department, Horombe Region, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Ambatomivahy (Ambatomivany), Betroka Department, Horombe Region, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar
[www.mindat.org]

Sakasoa phlogopite mine, Sakasoa, Betroka Department, Horombe Region, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Mafilefy phlogopite mine, Andalantanosy Commune, Ambovombe-Atsimo Department, Androy Region, Tuléar (Toliara) Province, Madagascar
[www.mindat.org]

Ambonaivo (Amboanaivo) thorianite deposit, Ambonaivo Group, Maromby Commune, Amboasary Department, Anosy (Fort Dauphin) Region, Tuléar (Toliara) Province, Madagascar
[www.mindat.org]

Belafa area, Maromby Commune, Amboasary Department, Anosy (Fort Dauphin) Region, Tuléar (Toliara) Province, Madagascar
[www.mindat.org]

Tranomaro Commune, Amboasary Department, Anosy (Fort Dauphin) Region, Tuléar (Toliara) Province, Madagascar
[www.mindat.org]


Malawi
Mt Malosa, Zomba District, Malawi
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]


Mozambique
Monte Salambidua, Tete, Tete Province, Mozambique
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]


Norway
Kåfjord Mines (Alta Copper Mines), Alta, Finnmark, Norway
[www.mindat.org]

Seiland Island, Alta, Finnmark, Norway
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Langesundsfjorden, Porsgrunn, Telemark, Norway
[www.mindat.org]


Pakistan
Astor (Astore), Astor District (Astore District), Northern Areas, Pakistan
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Harchu (Harchoo), Astor valley (Astore valley), Astor District (Astore District), Northern Areas, Pakistan
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Shigar Valley, Skardu District, Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan
[www.mindat.org]

Chilas, Diamar District (Diamir District), Northern Areas, Pakistan
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Gilgit, Gilgit District, Northern Areas, Pakistan
[www.mindat.org]


Russia
Marchenko Peak, Kukisvumchorr Mt, Khibiny Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia
[www.mindat.org]

Lovozero Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Vavnbed Mt, Lovozero Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Miass (Miask), Ilmen Mts, Chelyabinsk Oblast', Southern Urals, Urals Region, Russia
[www.mindat.org]

Vishnevye (Vishnyovye) Mts, Chelyabinsk Oblast', Southern Urals, Urals Region, Russia
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Vishnovogorsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast', Southern Urals, Urals Region, Russia
[www.mindat.org]

Giant Crystal Quarry, Embilipitya, Sri Lanka
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Ambilipitiya, Kataragama, Sri Lanka
[www.mindat.org]

Ratnapura, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Kollana, Uva Province, Sri Lanka
[www.mindat.org]

Switzerland
Zinggenstöcke, Oberaar lake area, Grimsel area, Hasli Valley, Bern, Switzerland
[www.mindat.org]

Tanga Region, Tanzania
[www.mindat.org]

Clora May Mine (Mina Blanca; Clara May Lode), Trout Creek Pass pegmatite District, Buena Vista, Chaffee Co., Colorado, USA
[www.mindat.org]

St Peters Dome, Cheyenne District (St. Peters Dome District), El Paso Co., Colorado, USA
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Helen Hunt Falls, El Paso Co., Colorado, USA
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

White Cloud pegmatite, South Platte Pegmatite District, Jefferson Co., Colorado, USA
[www.mindat.org]

Tuxedo, Henderson Co., North Carolina, USA
[www.mindat.org]

Crystal King Zircon mine (Ashton location), Wichita National Wildlife Refuge, Comanche Co., Oklahoma, USA
[www.mindat.org]

Baringer Hill (Barringer Hill), Bluffton, Llano Co., Texas, USA
[www.mindat.org]

Lam Dong Province, Vietnam
[www.mindat.org]




Click here to view Best Minerals Z and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation of completed Best Minerals articles.

Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 04/16/2013 01:39PM by Rock Currier.

More from Ontario; McLaren mine (Perth) - gemmy zircs, Kuehl lake - huge zircs, Lake Clear mines - twinned zircs (I forget which has the better twinned zircs between Meany mine, Smart mine and the others).

From Quebec; chemin White roadcut which produced narrow pink xls to 8cm long (usually repaired specimens). Bryson, near Grand Calumet (probably Pontiac Co.) unusual short crystals with complex terminations to ~3 cm.

Dear Rock,
there is the single zircon locality - zircon point on Vavnbed Mt. So You had subdivide specimens from the same locality on two groups - with complete and incomplete labels. :)
Kind regards,
Pavel

The area name of "Langesundsfjorden, Porsgrunn, Telemark, Norway" would better be simply stated as "Langesundsfjorden area, Norway". Langesundsfjorden is a fjord which partly divides the two counties of Vestfold and Telemark, and the pegmatites are found distributed throughout the area. Porsgrunn is simply a town in south Telemark.

Thanks guys. Already I can see the article getting better. The zircon entry like many others I put there to act as a place marker and a lighting rod to try and locate someone interested enough in zircons to take it upon themselves to write the article and select the pictures for the article. I am pretty sure that there is someone out there who could do a better job on the article than I. I started writing these articles some years ago and arbitrarily decided to start with the minerals starting with A. I wrote a few hundred pages about them and as I went along, my ideas about what should be included and not included (not to be included became less and less) underwent a lot of changes so by the time I came to the end of all the A minerals in Fleischer's, I needed to go back and make changes in most of what I had written. Then I got the idea that all this should be transfered to a Wikipedia type project because it became obvious that just one or even a few people could not do the job very well. Once on mindat, the project has been further changing because of the ability to import images easily and the ideas and suggestions of others. We will just have to keep working and see where the project goes. The more articles that are written and the more contributions that are made, the stronger and more useful and authoritative it will become. Perhaps in ten or twenty years it will become something really good and useful.

Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.

Rock
A good start but there are a couple Australian localities that should be there, eg Mud tank (eg [www.mindat.org] - there are a lot of duplicate photos there too!)
Also Sisters Ck (I will see if I can find a better image): [www.mindat.org]
Ralph

Regards,
Ralph

Rock,

The photo from Rob Lavinsky said to be "zircon crystals altering to eudialyte" from Kangerdluarssuq in Greenland looks like a photo of ordinary eudialyte crystals from the area. Zircon is very resistent to weathering and geochemical alterations and I cannot rember seeing any pseudomorphs after zircon crystals - let alone "zircon altering to eudialyte". There are zircons in the Ilimaussaq complex and also at Narssarsuk in Greenland, but I have never seen any large or spectacular crystals or specimens.

The listing of a photo of zircon under the heading of "Kåfjord copper mines" is also misleading as the text of the photo clearly states that it is from the island of Seiland.

Knut



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/07/2009 06:11PM by Knut Eldjarn.

Knut,
Thanks for the heads up. When the article gets written we will probably not include those images. The links listed were just grabed in haste from the gallery without much thought applied to them. Often when creating the article some of the images are thrown out and or others added. Then of course the help we get in the threads like yours are invaluable in helping I and the other authors stay out of trouble. Would you like to work on an article here? Like perhaps Zircon, this mineral? I would be only too glad to turn it over to you. What is above is just a place holder rather than the start of an article.

Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.

Hi Rock,
here you have some photos Zircons from Shavaryn Tsaram, Mongolia

[www.mindat.org]

[www.mindat.org]

Vita

Rock,

You have listed the Kåfjord copper mines near Alta as a Zircon locality refering to a picture of a typical crystal from the Seiland pegmatites. The Kåfjord copper mines is NOT a locality for Zircons.

Knut

Vita,

Your first image does not have anything in the image or caption to tell how large the zircon crystal is. Can you tell us something about the locality of Shavaryn Tsaram, Mongolia ?



Knut,
Can you tell us something about the Seiland pegmatites and the zircons that come from there?

Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.

Hi Rock,

[www.mindat.org] - exactly size spec. is 16mm x 10mm x 8mm - I fix it and give the description of the photo :)

here [www.mindat.org] is size spec. 13x8x5mm - I now fix too.

I can not write more about the site Shavaryn Tsaram because I was not there.
A two sample Zircon I have from my friend Jindrich Kynický, [www.mindat.org] , who was in the area.

Vita



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 09/11/2010 06:49AM by Vítězslav Snášel.

Rock:

The only 2 correct localities for the Brazilian zircons are:

- Peixe alkhaline complex, Tocantins state (I am not sure about Natividade, Peixe alkhaline complex; I will check if Natividade is the right name of the city where the alkhaline complex is located)

- Poços (should be pronounced "possos") de Caldas, Minas Gerais - it is also a big alkhaline complex

All others are 100% wrong; it is crazy, some are coimpletely absurd, like Sapucaia mine, Campos Verdes de Goiás and Brumado; all these specimens came from Peixe; Poços de Caldas complex was mined from the 1940's until the late 1980's for zirconium ore but now all mines are closed.

Luiz