Gem-quality brownish red zircon occurs in
alluvium derived from Tertiary alkali basalt at
Muling in the northeast Chinese province of
Heilongjiang. Rough and cut samples were characterized
using standard gemological methods,
electron microprobe, LA-ICP-MS, and Raman
and UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy. Internal features
consisted of melt inclusions, apatite, magnetite,
fluid inclusions, and color zones. The samples
contained abundant rare-earth elements, but
showed only slight radiation damage and properties
consistent with “high” zircon. Although it
has yet to be mined commercially, the Muling
deposit is a promising source of gem zircon.