Zamak
Zamak is a zinc alloy containing some aluminum (3.9-4.5%) and copper
(0.02-0.05%).
Zinc
An abundant, lustrous, bluish-white, metallic element of the magnesium-cadmium
group. Zinc is brittle at room temperature but malleable when heated.
It is used to form a wide variety of alloys including Brass, Britannia,
Bronze, various solders, and Nickel Silver. Because zinc is not
easily oxidized in moist air it is used for sheeting, coating galvanized
iron (and other metals), for electric fuses, anodes, meter cases,
in roofing, gutters, and is also largely consumed in electric batteries.
Zircon
Zircons are very common minerals which occur naturally in clear,
yellow, brown, orange and reddish-brown colors. Zircon is frequently
heat treated to enhance or alter their color. Mohs scale: 6.5-7.5.
Many people confuse the natural gem zircon with cubic zirconia which
is a man-made, synthetic used as an inexpensive alternative to a
diamond. Note that these are completely different materials.
Zoisite
Zoisite (Calcium-aluminum silicate) is a gray-green mineral that
occurs in cracks of igneous rock. Zoisite has three known forms:
anyolite (a green matrix containing rubies), tanzanite (transparent,
blue-violet containing strontium), and thulite (opaque pink crystals
containing manganese). Zoisite was named for the Slovenian mineral
collector Baron Sigismund Zois von Edelstein, who financed the expedition
that discovered Zoisite.
|