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Gemstones, Minerals & Fossils
Lapidary
Zircon and other clear stones identification
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<blockquote data-quote="Lefty" data-source="post: 399252" data-attributes="member: 2976"><p>Quite a few differences between topaz and colourless zircon, though it may not be readily observable from a small, water-worn pebble.</p><p></p><p>Topaz is harder than zircon and has perfect cleavage in one direction compared to zircon's imperfect cleavage in two directions. Topaz doesn't display visible double-refraction while zircon shows it strongly.</p><p></p><p>A topaz crystal that has not been rounded by weathering has a fairly distinct look about it, with a four-sided "diamond-shaped" cross section (the point can sometimes be more complex) and striations running down the length of it rather than across it like quartz.</p><p></p><p>With large enough zircons with clean faces that can be seen into, you can often see the double-refraction using loupes. There is a distinct "fuzzy" look when looking through it and a single surface feature on the outside (say a surface crack) appears double if you look very closely from the other side, two identical cracks running beside one another.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lefty, post: 399252, member: 2976"] Quite a few differences between topaz and colourless zircon, though it may not be readily observable from a small, water-worn pebble. Topaz is harder than zircon and has perfect cleavage in one direction compared to zircon's imperfect cleavage in two directions. Topaz doesn't display visible double-refraction while zircon shows it strongly. A topaz crystal that has not been rounded by weathering has a fairly distinct look about it, with a four-sided "diamond-shaped" cross section (the point can sometimes be more complex) and striations running down the length of it rather than across it like quartz. With large enough zircons with clean faces that can be seen into, you can often see the double-refraction using loupes. There is a distinct "fuzzy" look when looking through it and a single surface feature on the outside (say a surface crack) appears double if you look very closely from the other side, two identical cracks running beside one another. [/QUOTE]
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Gemstones, Minerals & Fossils
Lapidary
Zircon and other clear stones identification
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