How much is zircon crystals worth?

Prices depend on color saturation, clarity and size. Fine saturated blues in sizes over 10 carats are typically $300 to $400 per carat, while high quality stones in the 5 to 10 carat size sell for $200 to $300 per carat.

Is zircon worth any money?

Prices for blue zircons average around $75 per carat for 5 to 6 carat gems. The better colors with fancy shapes can wholesale from $125 to $150 per carat. Top gem blues can reach $200 per carat. Stones over 10 carats range from $150 to $175 per carat.

Is zircon rarer than diamond?

In fact, it is much rarer than diamonds but is considerably less valuable. Zircon comes closer to resembling diamonds than any other natural gem. Its superior luster and intense fire give it a real sparkle that is comparable to a diamond.

Are zircon crystals expensive?

Zircon can cost anywhere around $50 to $400 per carat, depending on the quality factors of the stone. You'll need to evaluate the stone and ensure that it is worth the asking price. It is best to compare the zircon prices from different vendors before you buy, to ensure you are getting a good deal.

Are zircon crystals rare?

Sources. Zircon is found all over the world, but gem-quality crystals are rare.

Not Your Grandma's Rhinestones: Zircon [Gem Buyer's Guide]

How can you tell how old a zircon is?

Another option is to dissolve the zircon grain in hydrofluoric acid to separate the uranium and the lead. The scientists can then analyze them on a mass spectrometer to get the Pb/U ratio and thus calculate the age of the zircon.

Is zircon a real stone?

Zircon is a natural stone. It is a zirconium silicate which appears a a dark brown, green or red color after extraction and changes color when heated. Most blue stones are pastel blue, but some exceptional gems have a bright blue color. Zircon is also available in green, dark red, purple, yellow, brown and orange.

How old are zircon crystals?

Zircon crystals are almost indestructible; some still around today are nearly 4.4 billion years old. They're like tiny time capsules that retain the chemical fingerprints of this extremely early time.

Where are zircon crystals found?

Gem-grade zircon has been produced from alluvial deposits in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Vietnam for hundreds of years. More recent gem-grade deposits are in Australia, Nigeria, and Madagascar. Deposits mined for gem-grade zircon must contain crystals at least several millimeters in size with good clarity.

Is white zircon expensive?

Indeed, before the introduction of diamond simulants such as cubic zironcia and moissanite, natural white zircon was the preferred alternative to diamond. Clean and well-cut white zicons are quite affordable, but larger sizes can be valuable.

Is zircon a crystal?

The crystal structure of zircon is tetragonal crystal system. The natural color of zircon varies between colorless, yellow-golden, red, brown, blue, and green. Vitreous to adamantine; greasy when metamict.

What is the rarest crystal?

Black Opal

Opals are usually creamish-white and can display rainbow-colored inclusions as light reflects on the stone. However, black opals are different and rare. Most of the black opals are mined in the Lightning Ridge area in New South Wales, Australia.

Why is zirconium so expensive?

Zirconium metal is much more expensive than zircon because the reduction processes are costly. Collected from coastal waters, zircon-bearing sand is purified by spiral concentrators to separate lighter materials, which are then returned to the water because they are natural components of beach sand.

Are zircon and zirconia the same thing?

Zircon is made of zirconium silicate, whereas cubic zirconia is made of zirconium oxide. Both of the gemstones are hard to differentiate from each other and are confused as being the same.

Is zircon the same as blue topaz?

Not to be confused with the synthetic cubic zirconia, zircon is natural and magnificent and is also the oldest known gemstone. While it comes in reddish-brown, yellow, and grey, blue is the most prized color. Blue zircon is considered Decembers modern birthstone along with blue topaz and tanzanite.

Does White zircon sparkle like a diamond?

If you love diamonds, but not the associated cost, white zircons are an excellent alternative. These stones possess a similar dispersion to diamond, and the double refraction gives you even more sparkle.

What color are zircon crystals?

Zircon occurs in an array of colors. Its varied palette of yellow, green, red, reddish brown, and blue hues makes it a favorite among collectors as well as informed consumers.

What is special about zircon?

Originally formed by crystallization from a magma or in metamorphic rocks, zircons are so durable and resistant to chemical attack that they rarely go away. They may survive many geologic events, which can be recorded in rings of additional zircon that grow around the original crystal like tree rings.

Why are zircon crystals important?

Zircons can survive processes like erosion, transport and metamorphism, so they preserve a record of past geological processes. They are one of the key minerals used by geologists to determine the age of rocks. Zircons contain trace amounts of uranium and thorium, which decay radioactively over time.

Is blue zircon a precious gem?

Is blue zircon rare? Yes it is. In fact, it is much rarer than diamonds but is considerably less valuable because there is less demand on the market. Blue is the most valuable variety and among the most sought after.

Who found the zircon crystal?

With the help of Yusheng Wan, a geologist from the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences in Beijing, China, they were able to date two zircon crystals back to 4.24 and 4.03 billion years. These crystals were embedded in a 3.4-billion-year-old granite rock.

Why are zircons so old?

The radiation damage means the zircons could have been contaminated during their long lifetime. Zircons hold minute amounts of two naturally occurring uranium isotopes — isotopes are atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons. Uranium radioactively decays to lead at a steady rate.

Is zircon fake diamond?

Is a Cubic Zirconia Real? A cubic zirconia is a real cubic zirconia, but it is not a real diamond. There are a few types of stones that are used as diamond simulants, but cubic zirconia is by far the most common and the most realistic.

Is zircon a good stone?

Zircon is an important gemstone of many colors, and is an historical gemstone used for thousands of years. It is sometimes looked upon as a cheap Diamond simulant, but in actuality it can be a valuable gem. Its color diversity is caused by traces of certain impurities, some of which are radioactive.

Are there fake zircon?

Zircon is a natural gemstone and while synthetic versions exist, they aren't very common. Cubic zirconia, in comparison, is a baby in the mineral world. Natural cubic zirconia was only discovered in the 1930s. However, because natural CZ is so rare, scientists began to work on synthesizing it.