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Zircon (Photo) [abbr. Zrn ]

Year of discovery: 1783 (Narestø quarry, Norway, Hella 1 quarry, Norway, and Alve quarry, Norwary), 1885 (Japan)

Locality list: 987 localities of zircon

• ZrSiO₄
• [Zr⁴⁺][SiO₄]^4-

• Class: Zircon group
• Class: Nesosilicate
• Variety: Malacon (+H2O)
• Variety: Alvite (+Hf, Be)
• Variety: Cyrtolite (+REE)
• Variety: Naegite (+REE, Nb, Ta)
• Variety: Yamaguchilite (+REE, P)
• Variety: Hagatalite (+REE, Nb, Ta, Th)
• Insoluble in: HCl
• Fluorescence: UV excitation (Yellow-Yellowish green), Thermoluminescence, Cathodo luminescence
• Radioactive: Moderate

• Polymorph: Reidite (High pressure, Tetragonal)

• Zr => Th: Thorite
• Zr => Hf: Hafnon (Series)
• Zr => Ce: Stetindite

• Color: Colorless, Yellow, Brown
• Streak: White
• Luster: Adamantine
• Diaphaneity: Transparent-Opaque

• Habit :Short prismatic

• Cleavage: Indistinct on {110} and {111} (6 planes)
• Hardness: 7.5
• Density: 4.7

• System: Tetragonal
• Group: 4/mmm, I4₁/amd
• Lattice: a=6.6, c=6.0

Etymology: Zargun (Gold) in Persian, or Zarguin (Vermilion) in Arabic