What is the ruling on buying gold with zircon for cash, valuing it without separating them?

There is no impediment to purchasing gold mixed with zircon or other materials using cash. The prohibition applies only to purchasing gold mixed with other materials using gold, based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "It should not be sold until it is separated." The intent is to sell the pure gold by its weight, and to sell the remaining materials for whatever price is desired for them, whether small or large. This is known as the issue of "a mudd of عجوة and a dirham for two mudds of عجوة or two dirhams," and it is the view of Shafi'i, Ahmad, Ishaq, and some Malikis. Some scholars, such as Abu Hanifa, Al-Thawri, and Al-Hasan (definition) ibn Saleh, permit the sale for more than the amount of gold it contains, while Malik and others permit the sale if the gold is secondary to other materials, estimating this at one-third or less.