Zirconium

Zirconium is produced from two ore minerals. The principal economic source of zirconium is the zirconium silicate mineral zircon (ZrSiO4). The mineral baddeleyite, a natural form of zirconium oxide or zirconia (ZrO2), is a distant second to zircon in its economic significance. Zircon is the primary source of all hafnium. Zirconium and hafnium are contained in zircon at a ratio of about 50 to 1. Zircon is a coproduct or byproduct of the mining and processing of heavy-mineral sands for the titanium minerals ilmenite and rutile or tin minerals.

Chilas (Diamer district) – Alluvial diopside, zircon, rutile quartz, aquamarine, and tourmaline