December's Birthstone the Blue Zircon

Zircon was formed in the earth’s core 4.4 billion years ago, when the earth was new. It should not be confused with cubic zirconia. Zircon, birthstone for December, is valued for its burning brilliance. Blue zircon is one of three stones listed as the birthstone for December. A few sources list blue topaz first and zircon another. Perhaps that is because zircon is misunderstood. It is perplexed with cubic zirconia, a man made material with an completely different chemical structure.

Zircon was once viewed, in its clear form, as a alternate for diamonds. In reality, zircon is a valuable stone in its own right, and one with an exciting geological history. Zircon is from the Hadean era. It was created when the earth was very new and has not been changed since. That means zircon is 4.4 billion years old. It is also one of the densest, heaviest minerals. A stone of a specific carat weight will appear smaller than another stone of equal weight.

Commercial uses of zircon are many. Zircon is extracted for the metal zirconium. It is used as an abrasive, an insulating material, and as a component in nuclear reactors. Crucibles of zircon are used to fuse platinum. Scientists use zircon for formalizing the age of rocks, minerals and sediments. Last but not least, zircon is valued as a jewelry stone. Its fire and brightness make it very attractive.