ZrSiO₄
Zircon
December’s stone throws more fire than diamond of the same size, and it is zirconium silicate, not cubic zirconia.
- Formula
- ZrSiO₄
- Mohs hardness
- 7.5
- Crystal system
- tetragonal
- Colour
- many-coloured
- Element
- fire
- Chakra (tradition)
- root
- Zodiac
- Sagittarius, Capricorn, Leo
- Month
- December
- Where the earth keeps it
- Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Australia
What it actually is
Zircon is ZrSiO₄ before it is a story. The lattice is tetragonal, Mohs 7.5, and the eye meets many-coloured.
The better pieces still come out of the ground in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Australia. December’s stone throws more fire than diamond of the same size, and it is zirconium silicate, not cubic zirconia.
What the old tradition whispers
The parlour tradition ties Zircon to fire and to the root centre. The old site stood it near: Sagittarius, Capricorn, Leo. Old tables sit it beside December.
How not to turn it to ash
A hard stone survives a daily ring, yet two diamonds in one box will scratch each other. Warm water and a soft cloth are enough.