mineral general info

Zircon

Origin: Tvededalen, Langesundfjord, Norway

Picture height: 5 mm

Sample owner: Mr. and Mrs. Stemvers-van Bemmel

Photo courtesy of:

Pieter Stemvers, Leusden, Netherlands

Origin: District de Betroka

Sample size: 3 x 1. cm crystal

Heat treated zircon

Origin: Chandra distric, Thailand

Sample size: 8 mm crystal

Zircon with green lepidolite and cleavelandite (platy albite variety) matrix

Sample size: left 5 x 4 x 3 cm, right 6 x 4 x 3 cm

Origin: Brumada, Bahia, Brazil

Sample size: 1.5 cm crystal

Origin: Sornac pit, Wilberforce, Ontario, Canada

Sample size: 4 x 3 x 3 cm with one crystal to 3 mm and several smaller crystals

Origin: Pedra Lavrada, , Paraiba, Brazil
Erling Collection

Sample size: 2 x 1 x 1 cm

Zircon with euxenite

Origin: Manakara district, Madagascar
Erling Collection

Sample size: 2.5 x 2 x 1 cm

Origin: Hart's Range, , Northern Territories, Australia
Erling Collection

Sample size: 3 x 2 x 2 cm

Pegmatite matrix rich in feldspar with 3-4 mm octahedral crystals throughout

Origin: St. Peter's Dome, Teller City, Colorado, United States

Sample size: miniature

Origin: Kipawa Rare Earth Complex, Temiscamingue Co., Quebec, Canada

Sample size: 5 x 4.5 x 2 cm

Zircon crystal in microcline matrix

Origin: Tin Mountain mine, Custer Co., South Dakota, United States
Ex. Grenier Collection

Sample size: 6.5 x 4 x 3 cm

Micro brown crystals to about 0.5 mm in orthoclase matrix

Origin: Crestmore quarry, Riverside Co., California, United States

Ex. DeVito collection

Sample size: 8 x 4 x 4 cm

Creamy brownish red tetragonal prisms terminated by pyramids grown on and in between deep green aegerine crystals. The zircon crystals measure 1.5 cm at the greatest and most are to 4-7 mm.

Origin: Mt Malosa, Zomba, Chilwa Alkaline Are, Malawi

Sample size: 5 x 4.5 x 2.5 cm

Photo courtesy of:

Tom Loomis

Dakota Matrix Minerals

Zircon under SW-UV light

Origin: Matongo, Burundi

Owner: Axel Emmermann

The crystal is full of cracks and fractures due to metamictisation. Zircon is practically always 'doped' with some thorium and/or other radioactive elements. The decay of these atoms generates highly energetic, ionizing radiation that is capable of destroying the structure of the crystal in their vicinity. Therefore zircons are rarely found as clear, gem-quality crystals. The mineral's outer shape is preserved but the appearance becomes opaque and dull. According to 'Fluorescence: Gems and Minerals Under Ultraviolet Light', by Manuel Robbins, trivalent rare earths, particularly dysprosium, praseodymium, and europium, are suspected in this fluorescence. Since dysprosium is associated with similar yellow fluorescence, it seems to be the favorite candidate. (Thanks to Doug Mitchell)

Photo courtesy of:

Axel Emmermann

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