The name zircon probably originated from the Persian word zargun, which describes the color of the gemstone now known as zircon, jargon, hyacinth, jacinth, or ligure. This mineral, or its variations, is mentioned in biblical writings. The impure metal was first isolated by Berzelius in 1824 by heating a mixture of potassium and potassium zirconium fluoride in a small iron tube. Pure zirconium was first prepared in 1914. Very pure zirconium was first produced in 1925 by van Arkel and de Boer, by an iodide decomposition process they developed.
Zirconium is found in abundance in S-type stars, and has been identified in the sun and meteorites.
Analyses of lunar rock samples obtained during the various Apollo missions to the moon show a surprisingly high zirconium oxide content, compared with terrestial rocks. Naturally occurring zirconium contains five isotopes. Twenty six other radioactive isotopes and isomers are known to exist. Zircon, ZrSiO4, the principal ore, is found in deposits in Florida, South Carolina, Australia, and Brazil. Baddeleyite, found in Brazil, is an important zirconium mineral.