A Geoscience Digital Image Library
A Geoscience Digital Image Library
| Title | Zircon in pegmatite |
|---|---|
| Description | Zircon, ZrSiO4, is found in many types of rock but is usually very fine grained and often overlooked. Here it is in a pegmatite composed mostly of coarse quartz and feldspar. The zircon is dark gray-brown with dull luster; some grains have an indistinct rectangular shape. Some zircon resembles diamond in luster and fire and colorless zircons have been mistaken for diamonds by experienced jewelers. Zircon often contains radioactive elements and so may be metamict (altered due to radioactive decay). It also may become hydrated. So, attractive specimens are quite rare. This sample is about 7 cm across. |
| Photographer | Nessa Eull. 2001-03-26. |
| Collection | University of North Dakota Mineralogy Collection #3117. |
| Key words | zircon, pegmatite |
| Tech details | 574 KB. Hand specimen. Fujifilm FinePix S1Pro digital camera; 60mm AF Nikon micro lens. |
| GeoDIL number | 251 |
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