A mineral that is sometimes confused with the synthetic cubic zirconia (CZ). Both have been used as substitutes for diamonds. The name Zircon (ZrSiO₄) is derived from its constituent element zirconium (Zr) from the arabic zargun = 'gold color'.

Zircon appears in tetragonal crystals having various colours such as red, red-brown, brown, orange, yellow, green, blue, grey and colourless. Important sources of Zircon are Birma, Cambodia, Australia and Sri Lanka.

Fission tracks in Zircon crystals caused by radioactive decay have been used to date rock samples. 

The Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom

Mineralogy Database

Photograph: Dr. Steven Barlow