Zircon Sand

Zircon sand is a mineral primarily composed of zirconium, silicon, and oxygen, which crystallizes from magma during the formation of igneous rocks. It also occurs in veins and metamorphic rocks. With a tetragonal crystal system, it often forms well-developed small tetragonal prisms with pyramidal ends or irregular granules. It exhibits brittleness and a conchoidal fracture, making it an excellent refractory material. Commonly associated with minerals such as ilmenite, rutile, monazite, and xenotime in coastal sands, it is extracted through beneficiation processes including water concentration, electrostatic separation, and magnetic separation.