Zircon
ZrSiO₄

     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; I4₁/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/cm³.
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:

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

DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:

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