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Zircon

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Gilgit, Gilgit District, Northern Areas, Pakistan
© Joseph A. Freilich

Show Zircon Photos (396)
Formula:
Zr[SiO
 
4
]
System:TetragonalColour:Colourless, yellow, ...
Lustre:Adamantine, Vitreous, GreasyHardness:7½
Name:From the Arabic (and, in turn, from the Persian "azargun") "zar", gold, plus "gun", coloured, referring to one of the many colors that the mineral may display.
Dimorph of:Reidite


Zircon Group. The zirconium analogue of Thorite and Hafnon. Zircon-Hafnon Series. The low-pressure dimorph of Reidite.

Zircon, zirconium orthosilicate, is found in most igneous rocks and some metamorphic rocks as small crystals or grains, mostly widely distributed and rarely more than 1% of the total mass of the rock. It is also found as alluvial grains in some sedimentary rocks due to its high hardness. Zircon has a high index of refraction and, where crystals are large enough, is often used as a gemstone.

Classification of Zircon

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/A.09-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.AD.30

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
D : Nesosilicates without additional anions; cations in [6] and/or greater coordination
Dana 8th edition ID:51.5.2.1

51 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups Only
5 : Insular SiO4 Groups Only with cations in >[6] coordination
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.10.1

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
10 : Silicates of Zr or Hf
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Occurrences of Zircon

Geological Setting:An accessory rock in igneous and metamorphic rocks.

Physical Properties of Zircon

Lustre:Adamantine, Vitreous, Greasy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent, Opaque
Comment:Greasy when metamict.
Colour:Colourless, yellow, grey, reddish-brown, green, brown, black,
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):7½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Poor/Indistinct
Indistinct on {110}{111}
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):4.6 - 4.7 g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.714 g/cm3

Crystallography of Zircon

Crystal System:Tetragonal
Class (H-M):4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:I41/amd (I41/a 2/m 2/d)
Cell Parameters:a = 6.607(1) Å, c = 5.982(1) Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.905
Unit Cell Volume:V 261.13 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Tabular to square prismatic crystals.
Twinning:On {101}
Comment:May be metamict.
Crystal Atlas:
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Zircon no.9 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Zircon no.24 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Zircon no.66 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Zircon no.81 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Zircon no.97 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Zircon no.133 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Zircon no.137 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Zircon - {100}, {301}, {101}

About Crystal Atlas

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Structure
  Reference
Hazen R M Finger L W (1979) Crystal structure and compressibility of zircon at high pressure crystal No. 1, 1 atm - before P. American Mineralogist 64:196-201.

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More Crystal Structures
Click here to view more crystal structures at the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Zircon

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 1.925 - 1.961 nε = 1.980 - 2.015
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.055

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:Very strong
Pleochroism:Weak

Chemical Properties of Zircon

Formula:
Zr[SiO
 
4
]
Essential elements:O, Si, Zr
All elements listed in formula:O, Si, Zr
Common Impurities:Hf,Th,U,TR,O,H,H2O,Fe,Al,P

Relationship of Zircon to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Hafnon (see here)
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.AD.05Larnite
Ca
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AD.05Calcio-Olivine
Ca
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AD.15Merwinite
Ca
 
3
Mg[SiO
 
4
]
 
2
9.AD.20Bredigite
Ca
 
7
Mg[SiO
 
4
]
 
4
9.AD.25Andradite
Ca
 
3
Fe
3+
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Almandine
Fe
2+
3
Al
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Calderite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)
 
3
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Goldmanite
Ca
 
3
(V
3+
 
,Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Grossular
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Henritermierite
Ca
 
3
(Mn
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
9.AD.25Hibschite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
6-1
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1.5-2.5
]
9.AD.25Hydroandradite
9.AD.25Katoite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
8-6
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-1.5
]
9.AD.25Kimzeyite
Ca
 
3
(Zr,Ti)
 
2
[(Si,Al,Fe
3+
 
)O
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Knorringite
Mg
 
3
Cr
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Majorite
Mg
 
3
(Fe
2+
 
,Si,Al)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Morimotoite
Ca
 
3
(Ti,Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
[(Si,Fe
3+
 
)O
 
4
]
 
3
 (?)
9.AD.25Pyrope
Mg
 
3
Al
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Schorlomite
Ca
 
3
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
[(Si,Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)O
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Spessartine
Mn
2+
3
Al
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Uvarovite
Ca
 
3
Cr
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Wadalite
Ca
 
6
(Al,Mg)
 
4
[Cl
 
3
|O
 
4
|{(Si,Al,Fe
3+
 
)O
 
4
}
 
3
]
9.AD.25Holtstamite
Ca
 
3
(Al,Mn
3+
 
)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
9.AD.30Coffinite
(U,Th)[(OH)
 
4x
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-x
]
9.AD.30Hafnon
(Hf,Zr)[SiO
 
4
]
9.AD.30Thorite
(Th,U)[SiO
 
4
]
9.AD.30Thorogummite
(Th,U)[(OH)
 
4x
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-x
]
9.AD.35Huttonite
Th[SiO
 
4
]
9.AD.35Tombarthite-(Y)
Y
 
4
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.40Eulytine
Bi
 
4
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.45Reidite
Zr[SiO
 
4
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
14.10.2Hafnon
(Hf,Zr)[SiO
 
4
]
14.10.3Zektzerite
LiNa(Zr,Ti,Hf)Si
 
6
O
 
15
14.10.4Parakeldyshite
Na
 
2
ZrSi
 
2
O
 
7
14.10.5Vlasovite
Na
 
2
ZrSi
 
4
O
 
11
14.10.6Keldyshite
(Na,H)
 
2
ZrSi
 
2
O
 
7
14.10.7Gaidonnayite
Na
 
2
Zr[Si
 
3
O
 
9
]·2H
 
2
O
14.10.8Terskite
Na
 
4
ZrSi
 
6
O
 
16
·2H
 
2
O
14.10.9Elpidite
Na
 
2
ZrSi
 
6
O
 
15
·3H
 
2
O
14.10.10Hilairite
Na
 
2
Zr[SiO
 
3
]
 
3
·3H
 
2
O
14.10.11Petarasite
Na
 
5
Zr
 
2
[(OH,Cl)|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]·2H
 
2
O
14.10.12Khibinskite
K
 
2
ZrSi
 
2
O
 
7
14.10.13Wadeite
K
 
2
Zr[Si
 
3
O
 
9
]
14.10.14Dalyite
K
 
2
ZrSi
 
6
O
 
15
14.10.15Kostylevite
K
 
2
ZrSi
 
3
O
 
9
·H
 
2
O
14.10.16Umbite
K
 
2
(Zr,Ti)Si
 
3
O
 
9
·H
 
2
O
14.10.17Paraumbite
K
 
3
Zr
 
2
H(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
 
2
·nH
 
2
O
14.10.18Georgechaoite
NaKZr[Si
 
3
O
 
9
]·2H
 
2
O
14.10.19Gittinsite
CaZr[Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.10.20Calciocatapleiite
CaZrSi
 
3
O
 
9
·2H
 
2
O
14.10.21Calciohilairite
CaZr[SiO
 
3
]
 
3
·3H
 
2
O
14.10.22Armstrongite
CaZr[Si
 
6
O
 
15
]·3H
 
2
O
14.10.23Lemoynite
(Na,K)
 
2
CaZr
 
2
Si
 
10
O
 
26
·5H
 
2
O
14.10.24Catapleiite
Na
 
2
Zr[Si
 
3
O
 
9
]·2H
 
2
O
14.10.25Baghdadite
Ca
 
3
(Zr,Ti)[O
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.10.26Lovozerite
(Na,Ca)
 
3
(Zr,Ti)[Si
 
6
(O,OH)
 
18
]
14.10.27Låvenite
(Na,Ca)
 
2
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)(Zr,Ti)[(O,OH,F)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.10.28Penkvilksite
(Na,Ca)
 
4
(Ti,Zr)
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
22
·5H
 
2
O
14.10.29Darapiosite
KNa
 
2
Li(Mn,Zn)
 
2
ZrSi
 
12
O
 
30
14.10.30Bazirite
BaZr[Si
 
3
O
 
9
]
14.10.31Komkovite
BaZr[Si
 
3
O
 
9
]·3H
 
2
O
14.10.32Zirsinalite
Na
 
6
(Ca,Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)Zr[Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
14.10.33Tranquillityite
(Fe
2+
 
,Ca)
 
8
(Zr,Y)
 
2
Ti
 
3
[O
 
4
|SiO
 
4
]
 
3

Other Names for Zircon

Synonyms:
AzoriteCirconeMeta-Zircon (of Leitz)OesterditeOstranite
TurmaliZirconite
Basque names:
Zircoi
Bulgarian names:
Циркон
Catalan names:
Zircó
Croatian names:
Cirkon
Czech names:
Zirkon
Esperanto names:
Zircono
French names:
AçoriteJargon de Ceylan
German names:
ZirkonAzoritOesterditÖrsteditÖrstettit
OstranitPolykrasilithZirkonit
Italian names:
Zircone
Japanese names:
鋯石
Latin names:
LyncurionLyncurion (of Theophrastus)
Norwegian names:
Zirkon
Russian names:
Циркон
Serbian (Cyrillic Script) names:
Циркон
Spanish names:
ZircónAçoritaAzoritaOesterditaOstranita
ZirconitaŒrsdedtita
Swedish names:
Zirkon
Ukrainian names:
Циркон
Varieties:
AlviteArshinoviteBeccariteCalyptoliteCyrtolite
Hafnian ZirconHyacinthJargoonMatura DiamondOerstedite
OrvilliteRibeiriteStarliteYamaguchiliteŒrstedtite

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:Virtually all zircon is fluorescent, from dull to bright in intensity, and in shades of yellow, golden-yellow and yellow-brown (SW UV). This property is often diagnostic in identification.
Thermal Behaviour:Therrmoluminescent
Other Information:Cathodoluminescent.
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Zircon

Reference List:Werner, A.G. (1783), in Romé de l'Isle - Cristallographie, 2nd ed., Paris, 2, 229.

Trofimov, A.K. (1962) The luminescence spectrum of zircon. Geochemistry 1962: 1102-1108.

American Mineralogist (1979): 64: 196.

Pupin, J.P. (1980) Zircon and granite petrology. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology: 73: 207-220.

Watson, E.B. and Cherniak, D.J. (1997) Oxygen diffusion in zircon. Earth and Planetary Science Letters: 148: 527-544.

Wang, R.C., Zhao, G.T., Lu, J.J., Chen, X.M., Xu, S.J., and Wang, D.Z. (2000) Chemistry of Hf-rich zircons from the Laoshan I- and A-type granites, eastern China. Mineralogical Magazine: 64: 867-877.

Parry, W.T., Wilson, P.N., Moser, D., and Heizler, M.T. (2001) U-Pb dating of zircon and 40Ar/39Ar dating of biotite at Bingham, Utah. Economic Geology: 96: 1671-1683.

Gucsik, A., Koeberl, Ch, Brandstätter, F., Reimold, W.U., and Libowitzky, E. (2002) Cathodoluminescence, electron microscopy, and Rama spectroscopy of shock-metamorphosed zircon. Earth and Planetary Science Letters: 202: 495-509.

Valley, J. (2003) Oxygen isotopes in zircon. Rev. Mineral. Geochem.: 53: 343-385.

Zhang, A.C., Wang, R.C., Hu, H., Zhang, H., Zhu, J.C., and Chen, X.M. (2004b) Chemical evolution of Nb-Ta oxides and zircon from the Koktokay no. 3 granitic pegmatite, Altai, northwestern China. Mineralogical Magazine: 68(5): 739-756.

Internet Links for Zircon

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    Localities for Zircon

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