zircons
December birthstone minerals
Zircons are zirconium silicate crystals found in igneous rocks.
They're prized in geology because they're extremely durable and can be dated precisely, making them useful for determining the age of ancient rock formations.
In jewelry, colorless zircons serve as diamond substitutes—though zircon is a natural mineral, not to be confused with synthetic cubic zirconia.
Oxygen-bound crystal compound
- crystal structureOrdered atomic arrangement in solids
- refractiveBending light through media
- metamorphicUndergoing structural change
- igneousFormed from cooled magma
granite · sedimentary · detrital · hardness · prismatic · hafnium · uranium · thorium
Ordered-atom solid
- facetedHaving multiple flat surfaces
- brilliantIntensely bright or gifted
- sparkleEmit flashing light
- jewelryOrnamental personal accessories
ring · pendant · earrings · clarity · carat · cut · setting · prong
Pursuing romantic connections
- radiometricMeasuring by radiation
- uranium-leadIsotopic age-determination method
- isotopeElemental variant by mass
- decayGradual organic breakdown
age · Precambrian · oldest · ancient · chronology · billion years · discordant · inherited
silicate
Oxygen-bound crystal compound
- crystal structureOrdered atomic arrangement in solids
- refractiveBending light through media
- metamorphicUndergoing structural change
igneous · granite · sedimentary · detrital · hardness · prismatic · hafnium · uranium · thorium · radioactive
crystal
Ordered-atom solid
jewelry · ring · pendant · earrings · clarity · carat · cut · setting · prong · simulant
dating
Pursuing romantic connections
- radiometricMeasuring by radiation
- uranium-leadIsotopic age-determination method
- isotopeElemental variant by mass
decay · age · Precambrian · oldest · ancient · chronology · billion years · discordant · inherited · provenance
- zirconium oxideRefractory ceramic compound