Zircon

Zircon is a mineral belonging to the group of nesosilicates. It’s chemical name is zirconium silicate. Zircon occurs in many colors such as yellow, red, pink, brown, blue, hazel, or black. It can also be colorless. The color of zircons can sometimes be changed by heat treatment. In geological settings, the development of pink, red, and purple zircon occurs after hundreds of millions of years. Zircon has a refractive index of 1.925 – 2.105. The refractive index of diamond is 2.42, thus making the brilliance of zircon almost as scintillating as a diamond. It’s hardness on the mohs scale 7.5. Zircon is found in Western Australia, Cambodia, and Tanzania.