when was zirconium discovered
Discovery of Zirconium. Precious stones containing zirconium, such as hyacinth and zircon, have been used as decorations since ancient times. Zirconium was first recognized as an element by Martin Heinrich Klaproth in 1789, in Berlin, in a sample of zircon (zirconium silicate) from Sri Lanka. His analysis of the mineralâs composition showed: 25% silica; 0.5% iron oxide; 70% new oxide. He called the new oxide âZirconerde.â (2)