Archive for December, 2008

December’s Birthstones

Monday, December 1st, 2008

Modern – Blue Zircon

Pronounced - zir·con (zûrkŏn’)
 
A brown to colorless mineral, ZrSiO4, which is heated, cut, and polished to form a brilliant blue-white gem.
 
Name origins – German Zirkon, from Arabic siriqun, from Greek surikon, from Persian āzargūn, fire color : āzar, fire (from Middle Persian ādur, from Old Persian *ātar, āç-, in Āçiyādiya, fire-worship month) + -gūn, color (from Middle Persian; akin to Avestan gaonəm, hair, complexion (second sense unattested)).
 
Zircon often occurs as well-formed crystals. The color is variable, usually brown to reddish brown, but also colorless, pale yellowish, green, or blue. The transparent colorless or tinted varieties are popular gemstones. Hardness is 7½ on Mohs scale.
Gem varieties occur in stream gravels and detrital deposits, particularly in Indochina and Sri Lanka, but also in Myanmar, Australia, and New Zealand. Zircon forms an important part of the syenite (type of granite) of southern Norway and occurs in large crystals in Quebec.
 
Well-formed sharp crystals are often found loose in the soil near Henderson Co., North Carolina. Bluish-skinned brown crystals are embedded in the marble of Limecrest Quarry, Sparta, New Jersey, and very long slender crystals occurred similarly at Natural Bridge, New York. Brown crystals accompany magnetite at an iron mine in Pricetown, Pennsylvania. Small grains are common in heavy sands in North Carolina and south to Florida. Often they are sharp, colorless, perfect crystals.
 
The traditional and cabochon birthstone is Turquoise.  Because or the volume of information about Turquoise I will post the information on Turquoise separately.
 
Zodiac Stones for December
 
November 23 – December 21
The Zodiac sign of Sagittarius includes five stones: topaz (considered to be the stone that brings the most luck), amethyst, ruby, sapphire, and turquoise. In addition to the Zodiac stones, Topaz is listed as the Planetary stone for Sagittarius and beryl as the Talismanic Stone. Sagittarius is a Fire sign.
 
December 22 – January 20
The Zodiac sign of Capricorn includes four stones: ruby (considered to be the stone that brings the most luck), agate, garnet, and black onyx. In addition to the Zodiac stones, lapis lazuli is listed as the Planetary stone for Capricorn and onyx as the Talismanic Stone.  Capricorn is an Earth sign.
Because of the number of stones in this category I will not list them all with their properties and where they are mined.  If you would like to know these things about a stone, email me and I will send you the information :)

Here are a few of our pieces with these gemstones

.trinity of the blue moonflowers on a rope