Talk:Zirconium(IV) chloride

Wrong geochemical data
"In nature, zirconium minerals invariably exist as oxides" --> Not true. There is, e.g., zircosulfate (hydrated zirconium(IV) sulfate); kosnarite - a potassium zirconium phosphate - is actually a minor potential Zr ore; weloganite is an example of a Zr-rich carbonate; and there is more.Eudialytos (talk) 20:48, 5 December 2022 (UTC)

Is it possible the author used “oxides” to mean anions that form oxygen-zirconium bonds? The sentence would then mean there are no naturally occurring zirconium halides, sulfides and the like. Definitely good to clarify this point. Ben (talk) 21:48, 5 December 2022 (UTC)


 * Thanks for your answer :) But, oxide is one class of compounds, and minerals, silicate - another, phosphate - another, etc. Bonds in these compounds are different than these in oxides.Eudialytos (talk) 22:32, 18 May 2023 (UTC)
 * ...but there is more, as new minerals are being discovered --> a natural crystalline Zr phosphide is already known, though not yet (originally) named.Eudialytos (talk) 22:34, 18 May 2023 (UTC)
 * Re complaints about ""In nature, zirconium minerals invariably exist as oxides" Maybe we should say 99.99....% is oxide? There are all sorts of trace minerals resulting from factory, reactor, volcanic exhausts.  But we dont want to trick readers into thinking that they are in anyway important.  Those things exist for stamp/butterfly collectors (which I am also, but trying to keep the big picture in mind). WP:UNDUE applies in this case, I propose.--Smokefoot (talk) 01:08, 19 May 2023 (UTC)
 * "factory, reactor':,these are not minerals, but synthetics; to be a mineral, a substance must form naturally = without human intention
 * 'volcanic exhausts': they do not produce (any larger quantities of) Zr minerals; Zr minerals are mostly formed during igneous/magmatic processes that include (alkaline) magma crystallization, hydrothermal processes, etc.
 * "99.99....% is oxide: well, it's not 99.99% (it's impossible to give a very precise number, as ~100-120 new mineral species are described and approved yearly), though still most (>90-95%) is.Eudialytos (talk) 11:13, 21 May 2023 (UTC)