Typically, zirconium and hafnium are contained in zircon at a ratio of about 50 to 1.

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"They've got a total heavy mineral content in them, which is ilmenite, rutile, zircon, " he explains.

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The company did say however that the market for zircon, which is mainly used in making ceramics, appears to have bottomed.

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They produce everything from aluminium to zircon, and so are less susceptible to fluctuations in the price of any particular metal.

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The Company has interests in mining for aluminum, borax, coal, copper, gold, iron ore, lead, silver, tin, uranium, zinc, titanium, dioxide feedstock, diamonds, talc and zircon.

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Late in his tenure, there was controversy over the decision to ban, for security reasons, a programme about the Zircon spy satellite, amid more reported pressure from the governors.

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Zircon sales were up 6% in the first quarter.

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Dr Hazen and his team speculate from meteorite and early rock studies that several hundred mineral species, including zircon, quartz, clay and halite salt crystals, formed during this early period of mineral evolution.

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Ah, OK: 2% of zircon is hafnium.

FORBES: It's 2013: Let's Check Those New Scientist Claims About Running Out Of Terbium And Hafnium