The Distribution of Uranium, Rare Earths, and Color Centers in a Crystal of Natural Zircon

Uranium (Nuclear Minerals) / Exploration, Mining, Marketing, & Acquisitions

Date posted: 01/05/10

The uranium content and its distribution in a zoned crystal of zircon (hyacinth) is determined by the Lexan print technique. Flourescence photography and spectroscopy establishes the distribution of praseodymium. The relationship between these impurities and the color centers responsible for the characteristic red coloration is examined. It is concluded that the centers are Nba+ ions produced by the radiation induced reduction of Nb5+ ions which occupy certain Zra+ sites. The presence of a defect with a characteristic absorption band at 3400 cm-1 is required before the reduction can proceed in a natural crystal.