Here is a brief description of zirconium. Image of a sample provided by Advent Research Materials Ltd .
Zirconium is a greyish-white lustrous metal.
The finely divided metal can ignite spontaneously in air, especially at elevated temperatures. The solid metal is much more difficult to ignite. The inherent toxicity of zirconium compounds is low. Hafnium is invariably found in zirconium ores, and the separation is difficult. The hafnium is removed from the zirconium used in the nuclear power industry.