Editing Zircon (section)

==Occurrence==
[[Image:Zirconium mineral concentrates - world production trend.svg|thumb|left|World production trend of zirconium mineral concentrates]]
Zircon is a common accessory to trace mineral constituent of all kinds of igneous rocks, but particularly [[granite]] and [[felsic]] igneous rocks. Due to its hardness, durability and chemical inertness, zircon persists in sedimentary deposits and is a common constituent of most sands.{{sfn|Nesse|2000|pp=313–314}}{{sfn|Hurlbut|Klein|1985|p=454}} Zircon can occasionally be found as a trace mineral in [[ultrapotassic igneous rocks]] such as [[kimberlite]]s, carbonatites, and lamprophyre, owing to the unusual magma genesis of these rocks.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Shumlyanskyy |first1=Leonid V. |last2=Kamenetsky |first2=Vadim S. |last3=Tsymbal |first3=Stepan M. |last4=Wilde |first4=Simon A. |last5=Nemchin |first5=Alexander A. |last6=Ernst |first6=Richard E. |last7=Shumlianska |first7=Liudmyla O. |date=2021-12-15 |title=Zircon megacrysts from Devonian kimberlites of the Azov Domain, Eastern part of the Ukrainian Shield: Implications for the origin and evolution of kimberlite melts |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0024493721005715 |journal=Lithos |volume=406-407 |pages=106528 |doi=10.1016/j.lithos.2021.106528 |bibcode=2021Litho.40606528S |issn=0024-4937}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Zaccaria |first1=Daria |last2=Vicentini |first2=Noemi |last3=Perna |first3=Maria Grazia |last4=Rosatelli |first4=Gianluigi |last5=Sharygin |first5=Victor V. |last6=Humphreys-Williams |first6=Emma |last7=Brownscombe |first7=Will |last8=Stoppa |first8=Francesco |date=2021-09-30 |title=Lamprophyre as the Source of Zircon in the Veneto Region, Italy |journal=Minerals |language=en |volume=11 |issue=10 |pages=1081 |doi=10.3390/min11101081 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2021Mine...11.1081Z |issn=2075-163X }}</ref>

Zircon forms economic concentrations within [[heavy mineral sands ore deposits]], within certain [[pegmatite]]s, and within some rare alkaline volcanic rocks, for example the Toongi Trachyte, [[Dubbo, New South Wales]] Australia<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alkane.com.au/images/pdf/Media/20141023.pdf|title=Dubbo Zirconia Project Fact Sheet June 2014|date=June 2007 |author=Staff|work=Alkane Resources Limited|access-date=2007-09-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228054038/http://www.alkane.com.au/projects/nsw/dubbo/DZP%20Summary%20June07.pdf|archive-date=2008-02-28}}</ref> in association with the zirconium-hafnium minerals [[eudialyte]] and armstrongite.

Australia leads the world in zircon mining, producing 37% of the world total and accounting for 40% of world EDR ([[economic demonstrated resources]]) for the mineral.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zircon-association.org/Websites/zircon/images/Resources/the-mineral-sands-industry-factbook-(feb-2014).pdf|title=The Mineral Sands Industry Factbook|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818142054/http://www.zircon-association.org/Websites/zircon/images/Resources/the-mineral-sands-industry-factbook-(feb-2014).pdf|archive-date=2016-08-18}}</ref> South Africa is Africa's main producer, with 30% of world production, second after Australia.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mbendi.com/indy/ming/hvym/af/p0005.htm|title=Heavy Minerals Mining in Africa – Titanium And Zirconium|access-date=2016-08-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528050951/http://www.mbendi.co.za/indy/ming/hvym/af/p0005.htm |archive-date=2008-05-28}}</ref>
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