zircon

American  

[zur-kon] / ˈzɜr kɒn /

noun

1. a common mineral, zirconium silicate, ZrSiO 4 , occurring in small tetragonal crystals or grains of various colors, usually opaque: used as a refractory when opaque and as a gem when transparent.

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zircon British  

/ ˈzɜːkɒn /

noun

1. a reddish-brown, grey, green, blue, or colourless hard mineral consisting of zirconium silicate in tetragonal crystalline form with hafnium and some rare earths as impurities. It occurs principally in igneous rocks and is an important source of zirconium, zirconia, and hafnia: it is used as a gemstone and a refractory. Formula: ZrSiO 4

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zircon Scientific  

/ zûr′kŏn′ /

1. A brown, reddish to bluish, gray, green, or colorless tetragonal mineral that occurs in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, and especially in sand. The colorless varieties are valued as gems. Chemical formula: ZrSiO ₄ .

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Usage

What does zircon mean? Zircon is a common mineral whose colorless, transparent variety is used as a gemstone. Zircon is most often opaque and can be reddish-brown, gray, green, or blue (the color of blue varieties is produced through heat treatment). Reddish-orange zircon is called hyacinth. A rare variety of zircon that can be yellowish, smoky, or colorless is called jargon. Some of zircon’s opaque varieties have practical applications, such as a refractory material for furnaces. Zircon is sometimes called zirconium silicate and is the principal source of the metallic element zirconium. Zircon is categorized as a semiprecious stone, which is a classification used for stones considered to have a lower value than those deemed precious. Due to its similarity, zircon is sometimes used as a substitute for diamonds, which are much more expensive. It should not be confused with cubic zirconia, an artificially manufactured stone that is also used as a diamond substitute. Zircon is one of the December birthstones. It is associated with the zodiac signs Sagitarrius and Capricorn. Example: I didn’t want diamonds in my engagement ring, but I like a clear, natural stone, so I chose zircon.

Etymology

Origin of zircon

First recorded in 1785–95; from German Zirkon, apparently ultimately from Italian giargone; see jargon ²

Example Sentences

By measuring the krypton trapped inside the crystals, the researchers were able to estimate how long the zircon grains remained near the surface before eventually being buried.

From Science Daily • Mar. 12, 2026

Commissioning of the Balranald mine in New South Wales, which aims to produce some 50,000 tons of zircon annually along with other mineral sands, is underway.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 20, 2025

For decades, Iluka has been mining zircon in Australia - a key ingredient in ceramics, and titanium dioxide used in the pigmentation of paint, plastics and paper.

From BBC • Aug. 12, 2025

And although debate continues about the timing of the Moon-forming impact, hardy zircon crystals in Moon rocks dated last decade did suggest it could have happened at the same time.

From Science Magazine • Apr. 16, 2024

Bournonite; apatite on muscovite; natural zircon in a spray of colors; dozens more minerals he cannot name.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

Related Words

• gem
• jewel
• rhinestone