Zircon and zirconium - what's the difference? They are often confused, and this confusion is understandable: both stones look like diamonds and have a consonant name.
That's where the similarities between them end. Chemically, optically and structurally, zircon and zirconium have no common features. These are two completely different stones. Each has its pros and cons.
Therefore, the question of which is correct: zirconium or zircon is absolutely incorrect. Zircon - stone, zirconium - metal…
History and origins
Many people confuse cubic zirconia, zircon and zirconium, believing that these are the names of one stone. The reason for such a common misconception lies in the fact that artificial cubic zirconia crystals are cubic zirconia (metal), and they are often called "cubic zirconia" or "cubic zirconia" (abbreviated as CZ). In America and Europe, the name was shortened and they began to call the crystal zircon or zirconium, which is fundamentally wrong.
Metal Zirconium (Zr) in the periodic table is located under No. 40. It looks like steel, becausehas a white-silver color. It is a ductile metal that does not corrode. In industry, it is added to the composition of other metals to reduce their fragility when exposed to low temperatures. In the form of oxides and s alts, this substance is present in more than 40 minerals. One of them is zircon. The term "cubic zirconia" refers to an artificial crystal (phianite) grown from this metal.
Zircon is a natural gemstone, one of the oldest minerals found in the earth's crust. The oldest zircon crystals found in Australia are estimated to be 4.4 billion years old. According to the chemical composition, the mineral is zirconium orthosilicate, this is the most common zirconium mineral in the earth's crust. Occurs in all rock types, but zircon crystals are mostly found in granites and syenites.
Synthetic versions of zircon crystals exist nowadays, but they are not very common.
Zirconium compared to zircon is a newborn baby in the mineral world. Cubic zirconium crystals are synthesized in the laboratory. The commercial production of the mineral, also known as cubic zirconia, began in 1976.
From this point of view, the choice between zircon or zirconium is obvious: natural stone is preferable. Especially when it comes to jewelry.
The initial purpose of the work on the synthesis of cubic zirconium oxide crystals was to use it for the needs of the optical industry. But the jewelry potential of the resulting crystals turned out to beso high that jewelers immediately fell in love with them. This is a side use of crystals, most of the zirconium oxide produced in the world goes to industrial needs. Crystals are used mainly in the production of lasers.
Let's continue the comparison of zircon and zirconium. What is the difference besides the origin of the stones?
Durability
Cubic zirconium has a hardness of 8 to 8.5 on the Mohs scale, it is not easy to crack or scratch, it is quite durable.
Over time, zirconium may become cloudy. The stone needs regular cleaning to help maintain its shine.
Zircon may look very similar to a diamond, but its hardness ranges from 7 to 8. It is softer than zirconium and should be handled with more care.
Mohs hardness of silica is 7, which is the main component of dust. Usually, stones with a hardness less than 7 are not used in jewelry, but only a gemological certificate can ensure that beautifully colored transparent zircon of insufficient hardness is not used in a product.
Natural zircon is brittle and prone to cracking. It is sensitive to sunlight and other sources of ultraviolet radiation. Under the influence of ultraviolet light, the stone may fade or change its color.
This is the main flaw in the list of things that zircon differs from zirconium: it is less hard.
Color
The color of natural zircon crystals depends onimpurities of copper, titanium, zinc, potassium or hafnium. The most common are straw yellow, smoky, yellowish green, red and brown crystals. There are sky blue, pink, green, even black and colorless zircons.
Some zircon crystals can exhibit pleochroism: play different shades of blue-green when illuminated from different angles.
The property of zircon to change color and transparency under the influence of ultraviolet radiation and high temperatures is often used in the manufacture of jewelry. Widespread brown crystals are often processed to produce the rarer, beautiful blue.
Cubic zirconium crystals are synthesized in the laboratory, manufacturers can control the composition and amount of impurities to obtain the desired color. Almost always, crystals are created colorless to mimic the color of a D-grade diamond. The second most common is pink, known under the trade name pink ice, very popular in the jewelry industry. Less common are green, black, blue, orange and red zirconium crystals.
Zircon is not much different from zirconium in terms of color. Both stones have excellent color ranges and are very similar to diamond in colorless states.
Zircon and zirconium: what's the difference?
Cubic zirconia is a synthesized stone. The end result of any technological process is predictable. The stones are always perfect and flawless, do not have extraneous inclusions, air bubbles, changes in transparency and othershortcomings. This impeccability and perfection betrays his artificial origin.
Zircon is usually transparent or translucent. As a rule, the stone contains few impurities. But some samples may have slightly hazy areas, which is considered a flaw and devalues the stone.
This is the difference between zircon and zirconium. The main difference for the gemstone.
Which stone to choose
Natural gemstone is always considered more valuable than synthetic one. Zircon is much more expensive than zirconium, although it is much cheaper than real diamond. On the global market, natural zircon costs between $75 and $200 per carat, depending on quality and size.
A carat of cubic zirconia costs about $20. It is an imitation gem.
Agree, a natural gem and an imitation of a jewel are not the same thing. Zircon or zirconium to choose - you decide. But in the long term, zircon will be of great value as a natural mineral.
Refraction index
Zircon has a very high brilliance, dispersion and refractive index RI 1, 93-1, 98. Light perfectly plays in the stone, making it brilliant and fiery, comparable in brilliance to diamond. The double refraction characteristic of the mineral creates the illusion that the crystal has more facets than it actually does. This high birefringence, when cut poorly, can visually make a great crystal fuzzy and cloudy, displaying a doubling of the facets.
Zirconium has a coefficientrefraction RI 2.15-2.18, higher than that of zircon. And although both stones sparkle, the brilliance of zircon looks more noble and not so flashy.
Final verdict
So, zircon and zirconium: what's the difference? Both stones have their advantages and disadvantages. Both stones are very different and each is attractive in its own way.
But! Zircon is a natural gemstone, each crystal of which is unique in its own way, like any creation of nature.
Cubic zirconium is also known as cubic zirconia. Although products with this stone can now be found in jewelry stores of well-known manufacturers, it is just a crystal imitating a precious stone. It is beautiful, more durable and affordable, but not precious. This is the expensive jewelry level.