AllMineralsRock
Sapphire Vs. Zircon
Sapphire is a very popular gemstone composed of silicon dioxide.[1] Zircon is also a very popular gemstone and its chemical composition is zirconium silicate.[2]
Quick Facts on Differences of Sapphire and Zircon
For a quick recap of the differences sapphire and zircon:- In terms of crystallography, sapphire can be hexagonal or trigonal while zircon is tetragonal.
- For chemical formulas, sapphire is Al2O3 while zircon is ZrSiO4.
- While both sapphire and zircon can be adamantine or vitreous, in terms of luster, zircon can be greasy.
- Sapphire can be commonly blue or green while zircon can be commonly brown.
- Sapphire's hardness is higher than zircon - sapphire is 9 and zircon ranges from 6 to 7.5 on the Moh's scale.
Quick Facts on Similarities of Sapphire and Zircon
The similarities of sapphire and zircon include:- Sapphire and zircon both can be opaque, translucent or transparent.
- Sapphire and zircon both streak colorless.
- Sapphire's rarity is similar to zircon.
- Sapphire's specific gravity overlaps with zircon - sapphire ranges from 3.99 to 4 and zircon ranges from 3.95 to 4.08.
Summary of Sapphire
Sapphire is a precious mineral that belongs to the corundum family. It is a variety of aluminum oxide that is distinguished by its blue color, although it can also be found in other colors such as pink, yellow, green, and purple. Sapphire is one of the hardest minerals in the world, with a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, making it an ideal material for use in jewelry and industrial applications.Summary of Zircon
Zircon is a mineral that belongs to the group of nesosilicates. It is a naturally occurring mineral that is usually found in igneous rocks and sedimentary deposits. Zircon is a hard mineral that has a range of colors including yellow, brown, red, green, and blue. It is also known for its high refractive index, which makes it a popular gemstone.Table Comparison of Sapphire vs Zircon
| Sapphire (src) | Zircon (src) | |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency | transparent, translucent, opaque | transparent, translucent, opaque |
| Chemical Formula | Al2O3 | ZrSiO4 |
| Chemical Composition | silicon dioxide | zirconium silicate |
| Specific Gravity | 3.99, 4, 4.1 | 3.95, 4.08, 4.2, 4.6, 4.6, 4.8 |
| Hardness | 9 | 6, 7.5 |
| Streak | colorless | colorless |
| Crystallography | hexagonal, trigonal | tetragonal |
| Refractive Index | 1.757, 1.779 | 1.78, 1.85, 1.85, 1.92, 1.93, 2.01 |
| Hydrous | No | No |
| Colors | common: green, blue sometimes: pink, amber, yellow less common: gray, black, brown, white, orange, purple, violet, colorless, red, gold, multicolor |
common: brown sometimes: red less common: blue, gray, pale, pink, green, white, orange, purple, yellow, colorless |
| Solubility | Insoluble | Insoluble |
| Fracture | conchoidal | conchoidal, uneven |