Atomic Symbol: Zr
Atomic Number: 40
Atomic Weight: 91.224
Isotopes and Abundances: 90Zr, 51.45% 91Zr,
11.22%, 92Zr, 17.15%, 94Zr, 17.38%, 96Zr, 2.80%
1 Atm Melting Point: 1855 °C
1 Atm Boiling Point: 4371 °C
Common Valences: 4+
Ionic Radii: sixfold: 72 pm
Pauling Electronegativity: 1.33
First Ionization Potential: 640 kJ/mol
Chondritic (CI) Abundance: 3.63 ppm
Silicate Earth Abundance: 10.3 ppm
Crustal Abundance: 132 ppm
Seawater Abundance: 9–300 pmol/kg
Core Abundance: n/a
Properties
Zirconium is a transition metal of low toxicity with the atomic number of 41. Zirconium has five stable isotopes (90, 91, 92, 94, 96) with an atomic mass of 91.224(2) (CIAAW 2015). The isotope 92Zr is the decay product of the now extinct 92Nb with a half-life of 34.7 Ma (e.g., Münker et al. 2000; Schönbächler et al. 2002; Iizuka et al. 2016). In some chondrites and CAIs, the neutron-rich isotope 96Zr is slightly enriched relative to other Zr isotopes, reflecting variable...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Akram W, Schönbächler M, Bisterzo S, Gallino M (2015) Zirconium isotope evidence for the heterogeneous distribution of s-process materials in the solar system. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 165:484–500
Barth MG, McDonough WF, Rudnick RL (2000) Tracking the budget of Nb and Ta in the continental crust. Chem Geol 165:197–213
Bau M (1996) Controls on the fractionation of isovalent trace elements in magmatic and aqueous systems: evidence from Y/Ho, Zr/Hf, and lanthanide tetrad effect. Contrib Mineral Petrol 123:323–333
Bruland KW, Middag R, Lohan MC (2014) Controls of trace metals in seawater. In: Mottl MJ, Elderfield H (eds) The oceans and marine geochemistry, Treatise on geochemistry, vol 8. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 19–51
CIAAW (2015) Commission on isotopic abundances and atomic weights. http://ciaaw.org/atomic-weights.htm
David K, Schiano P, Allègre CJ (2000) Assessment of the Zr/Hf fractionation in oceanic basalts and continental materials during petrogenetic processes. Earth Planet Sci Lett 178:285–301
Firdaus ML, Minami T, Norisuye K, Sohrin Y (2011) Strong elemental fractionation of Zr-Hf and Nb-Ta across the Pacific Ocean. Nat Geosci 4:227–230
Foley S, Tiepolo M, Vannucci R (2002) Growth of early continental crust controlled by melting of amphibolite in subduction zones. Nature 417:837–840
Godfrey LV, White WM, Salters VJM (1996) Dissolved zirconium and hafnium distributions across a shelf break in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 60(21):3995–4006
Hermann J, Rubatto D (2009) Accessory phase control on the trace element signature of sediment melts in subduction zones. Chem Geol 265:512–526
Iizuka T, Lai YJ, Akram W, Amelin Y, Schönbächler M (2016) The initial abundance and distribution of 92Nb in the Solar System. Earth Planet Sci Lett 439:172–181
Klemme S, Blundy JD, Wood BJ (2002) Experimental constraints on major and trace element partitioning during partial melting of eclogite. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 66(17):3109–3123
Lodders K (2003) Solar system abundances and condensation temperatures of the elements. Astrophys J 591:1220–1247
McDade P, Blundy JD, Wood BJ (2003) Trace element partitioning on the Tinaquillo Lherzolite solidus at 1.5 GPa. Phys Earth Planet Inter 139:129–147
Münker C, Weyer S, Mezger K, Rehkämper M, Wombacher F, Bischoff A (2000) 92Nb-92Zr and the early differentiation history of planetary bodies. Science 289:1538–1542
Münker C, Pfänder JA, Weyer S, Büchl A, Kleine T, Mezger K (2003) Evolution of planetary cores and the Earth – moon system from Nb/Ta systematics. Science 301:84–87
Palme H, O’Neill HSC (2014) Cosmochemical estimates of mantle composition. In: Carlson RW (ed) The mantle and core, Treatise on geochemistry, vol 3. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 1–39
Pearce JW, Peate DW (1995) Tectonic implications of the composition of volcanic arc magmas. Annu Rev Earth Planet Sci 23:251–285
Pfänder JA, Münker C, Stracke A, Mezger K (2007) Nb/Ta and Zr/Hf in ocean island basalts - implications for crust-mantle differentiation and the fate of Niobium. Earth Planet Sci Lett 254(1-2):158–172
Pfänder JA, Jung S, Münker C, Stracke A, Mezger K (2012) A possible high Nb/Ta reservoir in the continental lithospheric mantle and consequences on the global Nb budget – evidence from continental basalts from Central Germany. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 77:232–251
Rudnick RL, Gao S (2014) Composition of the continental crust. In: The crust, Treatise on geochemistry, vol 4. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 1–51
Schmidt K, Bau M, Hein JR, Koschinsky A (2014) Fractionation of the geochemical twins Zr–Hf and Nb–Ta during scavenging from seawater by hydrogenetic ferromanganese crusts. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 140:468–487
Schönbächler M, Rehkämper M, Halliday AN, Lee DC, Bourot-Denise M, Zanda B, Hattendorf B, Günther D (2002) Niobium-zirconium chronometry and early solar sytem development. Science 295:1705–1708
Shannon RD (1976) Revised effective ionic radii and systematic studies of interatomic distances in halides and chalcogenides. Acta Crystallogr A32:751–767
USGS (2014) http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/zirconium/mcs-2014-zirco.pdf
Zack T, Kronz A, Foley SF, Rivers T (2002) Trace element abundances in rutiles from eclogites and associated garnet mica schists. Chem Geol 184:97–122
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature
About this entry
Cite this entry
Münker, C. (2018). Zirconium. In: White, W.M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geochemistry. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39312-4_264
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39312-4_264
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-39311-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-39312-4
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences