Show UniqueIdentification

Id 70
Identification Type Mineral
Name Zircon
Distinguishing Features Heavy-mineral
High-relief
Description Transparent colorless to pale pink. Nonpleochroic. High order birefringence and characteristically vivid interference colors in cross-polarized light. Elongate or stubby euhedra, often with inclusions aligned along the long axis of the grain. Very high relief. Straight extinction.
Tags silicate
inclusions
nonpleochroic
high-birefringence
transparent
External Resources Zircon on MinDat
Imposters
Images
Unique Identification: Zircon
Site name: Woods Lake
Light type: Plane-Polarized Light
Magnification: 400
Submitted by: Val Stanley
Notes: characteristic shape
Image Tags: hexagonal
Unique Identification: Zircon
Site name: Woods Lake
Light type: Cross-Polarized Light
Magnification: 400
Submitted by: Val Stanley
Notes: characteristic shape
Image Tags: hexagonal
Unique Identification: Zircon
Site name: Hell Roaring Lake, ID
Light type: Plane-Polarized Light
Magnification: 400.0
Submitted by: Mark Shapley
Notes: Occurrence in sand composed largely of reworked Mazama Ash. Striking zoning indicates multiple growth phases in magma chamber.
Image Tags: euhedral zoned inclusions heavy_mineral
Unique Identification: Zircon
Site name: Hell Roaring Lake, ID
Light type: Cross-Polarized Light
Magnification: 400.0
Submitted by: Mark Shapley
Notes: Occurrence in sand composed largely of reworked Mazama Ash. Striking zoning indicates multiple growth phases in magma chamber.
Image Tags: euhedral zoned inclusions heavy_mineral
Unique Identification: Zircon
Site name: Woods Lake
Light type: Plane-Polarized Light
Magnification: 400
Submitted by: Val Stanley
Notes: characteristic shape
Image Tags: elongate high-relief
Unique Identification: Zircon
Site name: Woods Lake
Light type: Cross-Polarized Light
Magnification: 400
Submitted by: Val Stanley
Notes: characteristic shape
Image Tags: elongate high-relief
Unique Identification: Zircon
Site name: Woods Lake
Light type: Plane-Polarized Light
Magnification: 400
Submitted by: Val Stanley
Notes: characteristic shape
Image Tags: elongate high-relief
Unique Identification: Zircon
Site name: Woods Lake
Light type: Cross-Polarized Light
Magnification: 400
Submitted by: Val Stanley
Notes: characteristic shape
Image Tags: elongate high-relief
Unique Identification: Zircon
Site name: Woods Lake
Light type: Plane-Polarized Light
Magnification: 400
Submitted by: Val Stanley
Notes: characteristic shape
Image Tags: elongate high-relief
Unique Identification: Zircon
Site name: Woods Lake
Light type: Cross-Polarized Light
Magnification: 400
Submitted by: Val Stanley
Notes: characteristic shape
Image Tags: elongate high-relief
Unique Identification: Zircon
Site name: South of Java Trench, NE Indian Ocean (9 46.53 SA, 102 41.95E)
Light type: Plane-Polarized Light
Magnification: not specified
Submitted by: Guy Rothwell
Notes: Prismatic subeuhedral zircon crystal. Note the very high relief.,
Image Tags: none
Unique Identification: Zircon
Site name: South of Java Trench, NE Indian Ocean (9 46.53 SA, 102 41.95E)
Light type: Plane-Polarized Light
Magnification: not specified
Submitted by: Guy Rothwell
Notes: Prismatic subeuhedral zircon crystal. Note the very high relief. Mica and broken pyroxene crystal fragments also in the field. , mica pyroxene
Image Tags: none
Unique Identification: Zircon
Site name: Bay Horse Lake, ID
Light type: Plane-Polarized Light
Magnification: 400.0
Submitted by: Mark Shapley
Notes: Large prismatic zircon from a basaltic tephra originating in the Snake River Plain, Idaho. The extreme relief of the mineral accentuates the intersection of prism faces as shadowed lines. Note prismatic inclusion oriented to the long axis of the zircon.
Image Tags: high-birefringence high-relief transparent mafic_tephra prismatic
Unique Identification: Zircon
Site name: Bay Horse Lake, ID
Light type: Cross-Polarized Light
Magnification: 400.0
Submitted by: Mark Shapley
Notes: Large prismatic zircon from a basaltic tephra originating in the Snake River Plain, Idaho. The brilliant birefringence is characteristic of the mineral in all sizes.
Image Tags: high-birefringence high-relief transparent mafic_tephra prismatic

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