Distribution, types, metallogenic regularity and exploration potential analysis of zirconium deposit in China

Abstract

Zirconium, prized for its exceptional corrosion resistance, high melting point, and unique nuclear properties, plays a critical role in multiple industrial sectors globally. Zirconium deposits are categorized into endogenetic and exogenetic types in China. Endogenetic deposits – including alkaline rock-, alkaline granite-, and pegmatite-type mineralizations – predominantly occur along the Tarim Craton's northern margin, the North China Craton, the southern Greater Khingan metallogenic belt, and the Yangtze Craton's western margin. Exogenetic deposits, comprising clastic sedimentary, weathering crust, and fragmentation types, are concentrated in South China's coastal zones. Endogenetic mineralization formed during Permian-Cretaceous magmatic-hydrothermal events linked to evolved alkaline granitic systems, while exogenetic deposits developed in Quaternary periods through weathering of zirconium-rich protoliths. However, economic extraction of endogenetic deposits remains constrained by rare earth element (REE) associations and radioactive complexities. Currently, China's most economically significant reserves derive from clastic sedimentary systems, particularly coastal placer deposits. This study systematically synthesizes the spatial distribution and metallogenic mechanisms of Chinese zirconium deposits, offering strategic insights for resource exploration and sustainable utilization.