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Zircon

Zircon is a zirconium silicate mineral (ZrSiO₄) that is mined primarily as a source of zirconium and as an industrial mineral in its own right. It occurs naturally in igneous rocks and is commonly recovered as a coproduct from heavy mineral sands deposits alongside ilmenite, rutile and other titanium minerals. Zircon is valued for its high melting point, chemical inertness and refractory properties, making it essential in foundry applications, ceramics and the production of zirconium chemicals. The mineral is used extensively in the manufacture of ceramic tiles, sanitary ware and glazes, where it acts as an opacifier and whitening agent. In the foundry industry, zircon sand is used to make moulds and cores for casting metals, particularly steel, owing to its thermal stability and resistance to molten metal penetration. Zircon is also the primary feedstock for zirconium metal and zirconium dioxide, which are used in nuclear reactors, chemical processing equipment and advanced ceramics. Major producers of zircon include Australia, South Africa and Mozambique, where it is extracted from coastal and inland heavy mineral sands operations. Global demand is driven by growth in construction, infrastructure and manufacturing sectors, particularly in Asia. Zircon's durability and resistance to weathering also make it a valuable tool in geological dating and provenance studies.

Zircon News


Rare earths drill core
Osmond Resources study confirms potential for EU's first rare earths, zircon, titanium mine
2nd October 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

ASX-listed Osmond Resources has published a scoping study advancing the case for the EU's first rare earths, zircon and titanium mine. The scoping study for Osmond's Orión project, in Jaén... 


Weak market conditions impact Kenmare’s financial performance
Weak market conditions impact Kenmare’s financial performance
19th August 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

London-listed Kenmare Resources has reported that weak market conditions for its products, combined with the slower-than-expected commissioning of wet concentrator plant (WCP) A, continued to... 


Image of critical minerals in hand
Copi critical minerals project, Australia
7th August 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

RZ Resources Limited's Copi project will produce titanium minerals, including rutile, leucoxene and ilmenite, premium zircon and rare-earth elements, including monazite and xenotime.  


Tusker’s Cameroon project shows significant rutile reserves
Tusker’s Cameroon project shows significant rutile reserves
14th July 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

ASX-listed Tusker Minerals has announced a Joint Ore Reserve Committee (Jorc) exploration target of 2.1-billion to 2.6-billion tonnes at 2.1% to 2.3% total heavy minerals (THMs) for the Diwong... 


Piles of rare earths
Goschen rare earths and mineral sands project, Australia – update
10th July 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

VHM Limited has entered into an agreement with fellow-listed Iluka Resources for the long-term supply of all planned rare-earth concentrate. 


Synthetic rutile
IperionX to publish Camden-Titan integrated economic study by year-end
2nd July 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

US titanium developer IperionX has successfully completed the acquisition of the Camden critical minerals project, which includes existing infrastructure assets. The acquisition is highly... 


Monazite
US-based Atlantic Strategic Minerals confirms demo rare earths plant can come online in 12 months
30th June 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

US monazite developer Atlantic Strategic Minerals has confirmed a technically viable and rapid pathway to develop a domestic US rare earths processing facility from mineral sands. The company's... 


Ariel view of Moma mine site
Plant upgrade to unlock long-term production
5th June 2026 By: Devina Haripersad

The upgrade and transition of Wet Concentrator Plant A (WCP A) to the Nataka ore zone at the Moma Titanium Minerals mine, in Mozambique, will unlock the majority of the operation’s... 


Titanium mineral sands in hand
RZ Resources gets Australian gov approval to build Copi titanium minerals mine
27th May 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Australia-based critical minerals miner RZ Resources has been granted approval by New South Wales' Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure to proceed with first production from the Copi... 


Image of a box of rare-earth samples
Zulti South project, South Africa
8th May 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

Mineral sands producer Richards Bay Minerals plans to start construction on the project imminently. 


Image of South Africa map/flag
Zulti South project, South Africa – update
17th April 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) and Voltalia announced on April 8, 2026, that the Bolobedu Solar Farm, in Limpopo, had reached commissioning. The renewable power will be supplied to RBM’s KwaZulu-Natal... 


Image of mineral sands
Goschen rare earths and mineral sands project, Australia – update
27th March 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

The project has been approved for development. 


The Moma mine
Kenmare confident of meeting 2026 guidance, despite global uncertainty
25th March 2026 By: Creamer Media Reporter

Titanium minerals and zircon producer Kenmare Resources, which owns and operates the Moma mine, in Mozambique, says it is confident of meeting guidance on all metrics for this financial year,... 


VHM opts for full-scale development of Goschen rare earths project
VHM opts for full-scale development of Goschen rare earths project
23rd March 2026 By: Mariaan Webb

Exploration and development company VHM has approved a shift to full-scale development of its Goschen rare earths and mineral sands project in Victoria, abandoning a previously planned staged... 


Image of rare earths
Vara Mada (formerly Toliara) rare earth and heavy mineral sands project, Madagascar
13th March 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

In January 2026, an updated feasibility study confirmed Vara Mada's exceptional economics and its world-class quantities of high-quality rare earths, titanium and zircon. 


DMPR Minister Gwede Mantashe
DMPR welcomes Rio Tinto’s investment in Zulti South project
4th March 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) has welcomed the announcement by mining giant Rio Tinto that its subsidiary Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) will proceed with an R8.5-billion... 


An image of Rio Tinto Africa iron and titanium MD and RBM MD Werner Duvenhage
Rio Tinto approves R8.5bn Zulti South investment, lifts project suspension
2nd March 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

Mining major Rio Tinto has approved its subsidiary Richards Bay Minerals’ (RBM’s) Zulti South project, lifting the suspension which had been in place since January 2020. The about R8.5-billion... 


Image of drill rig at Donal project, Australia
Donald rare earth and mineral sands project, Australia
23rd January 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

The Donald project is a globally significant rare earth and mineral sands project with the potential to become a long-term supplier of critical rare-earth elements. 


Kenmare achieves guidance at Moma
Kenmare achieves guidance at Moma
21st January 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

London-listed Kenmare Resources has reported that it has achieved its revised 2025 production guidance for ilmenite and rutile at its Moma titanium minerals mine, in northern Mozambique, and has... 


Feasibility study confirms economics of Energy Fuels’ Madagascar rare earth project
9th January 2026 By: Darren Parker

NYSE- and TSX-listed Energy Fuels’ updated feasibility study (FS) for the Vara Mada project, in Madagascar, has confirmed the project’s strong economics, world-class quantities of high-quality rare... 


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pqt: 0.066s - ct: 0.121s - 275pq - 2rq
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