: a tetragonal mineral consisting of a silicate of zirconium and occurring usually in brown or grayish square prisms of adamantine luster or sometimes in transparent forms which are used as gems
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Spanning 11 themes, the 110 pieces in the collection also include Colombian emeralds, cat’s-eye blue topaz, natural zircon, and Santa Maria–type aquamarines to bring color to both geometric and fluid shapes.
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Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 17 May 2026
The findings may support another recent study, which uses ancient crystals of the mineral zircon—found in a different part of Western Australia—to suggest that pieces of Earth’s crust may have been melting back into the mantle around 3.35 billion years ago.
—Marissa Grunes, Scientific American, 19 Mar. 2026
The operation in KwaZulu-Natal province is focused on extracting zircon, rutile, ilmenite, and titanium oxide — critical ingredients in products such as paint, sunscreen, and smartphones.
—Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 2 Mar. 2026
The oldest material is 4.4-billion-year-old zircon crystals from Western Australia.
—Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
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Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 17 May 2026
The findings may support another recent study, which uses ancient crystals of the mineral zircon—found in a different part of Western Australia—to suggest that pieces of Earth’s crust may have been melting back into the mantle around 3.35 billion years ago.
—Marissa Grunes, Scientific American, 19 Mar. 2026
The operation in KwaZulu-Natal province is focused on extracting zircon, rutile, ilmenite, and titanium oxide — critical ingredients in products such as paint, sunscreen, and smartphones.
—Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 2 Mar. 2026
The oldest material is 4.4-billion-year-old zircon crystals from Western Australia.
—Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for zircon
Cite this Entry
“Zircon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zircon. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
zircon
noun
zir·con
ˈzər-ˌkän 
-kən
: a mineral that consists of a silicate of zirconium and occurs usually as brown or grayish crystals or sometimes as transparent forms which are used as gems
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