Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This study examines the effects of heat treatment applied to brown zircons using a simple and readily accessible furnace, conducting tests at various temperatures, durations, and atmospheres (oxidizing or reducing). The results confirm that zircons begin to lose their color at 325 °C and become colorless above 450 °C, but they also reveal that heating durations, often overlooked in studies on heat treatment, play a role: in this case, discoloration starts at 475 °C for shorter durations. The experiment demonstrates that it is possible to permanently alter the hue and brightness of zircons, transforming them from dark brown to vibrant shades such as orange-pink or colorless, using basic equipment.
Authors: GeoGems, Nantes, France, Boris Chauviré, Thierry Pradat, Gems-Plus, Bourg-la-Reine, Île-de-France, France
Language: English
Subfield: Geochemistry and Petrology
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W4410895369