Zircon is the birthstone of the month of December.
The first thing to be understood while talking about zircon is the name. Zircon is easily confused with the word Zirconia, cubic Zirconia. Zirconia is the synthesized material of the crystalline form of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2).
Natural Zircon is Zirconium Silicate (ZiSiO4). It is a mineral which belongs to neosilicates. The name zircon has derivative in many languages like Zargun in Persian, Zargono in Syrian, Zargun in Arabic all of which means vermillion. Vermillion means reddish or vivid red. The yellow variety of zircon was called as hyacinth, from greek. Lately the name was restricted to yellow zircon. Zircon comes in a wide range of colors red, pink, brown, yellow, and green and some colorless varieties.
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Zircons are found in igneous rocks, metamorphic rocks and in sedimentary rocks . They are said to ward off malicious thoughts and relieves hallucinations and melancholy. It also treats lung and liver related diseases and aids pregnancy. It is a stone of strength and confidence and is said to improve intellectual capacities. Zircon is available in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, Vietnam, Kampuchea, Australia, Brazil, Nigeria, Tanzania and France. The Specific gravity is 4.6–4.7 and the refractive index is 1.930 - 1.987. Because of their uranium and thorium content, some zircons might undergo metamictization which changes the mineral to be amorphous. The Moh's hardness for zircon is 6.5 to 7.5. Due to this the refractive index is n? = 1.925-1.961 ne = 1.980-2.015, 1.75 when metamict, zircon is birefringence which means double refraction. Light splits into two rays and this doubling effect is also seen in sphene.
