Zircon

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Zircon crystals - click for larger pic
Zircon crystals
© Gilles Haineault

Zircon crystals - click for larger pic
Zircon crystals
© Doug Merson

Zircon crystals - click for larger pic
Zircon crystals
© Stephan Wolfsried

ZrSiO

Zircon is a widespread species at MSH. Color zoning is apparent on some crystals. It displays intense yellow-orange fluorescence under SW.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color varies from pale brown, yellow, pink, orange and almost colorless.
Luster is vitreous to dull.
Diaphaneity is transparent in small crystals, opaque on larger crystals.
Crystal System is tetragonal; amd
Crystal Habits include sharp tetragonal bipyramids up to 2cm across
and crystals of varied habits.
Cleavage {110} is imperfect and {111} is good.
Fracture is uneven to subconchoidal.
Hardness is 7.5
Specific Gravity is approximately 4.4 g/cm
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals include aegirine, albite, amphibole group, ancylite,
bastnäsite, burbankite, calcite, catapleiite, cordylite, fluorite, microcline,
pectolite, pyrite, pyrochlore, pyrophanite, quartz, siderite, sodalite and
synchysite.
Distinguishing Features: Crystal habit and luster.
Origin: Named from the Arabic zar, gold, plus gun, colored, referring to
one of the many colors that the mineral may display. Known since
antiquity.

CLASSIFICATION:

Dana System
# 51.5.2.1

Strunz Classification
# VIII/A.09-10

REFERENCES:
MinRec 21:347-348 (1990), Dana 8:1054-1056 (1997)

DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:

MSH
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Legend

Zircon crystals - click for larger pic
Zircon crystals
© Stephan Wolfsried

Zircon & rutile crystals - click for larger pic
Zircon & rutile crystals
© Elmar Lackner

Zircon crystals - click for larger pic
Zircon crystals
© Steven Stuart