- Zircons are commercially mined for the metal zirconium, and are used for abrasive and insulating purposes.
- It is the source of zirconium oxide (ZrO2), one of the most refractory materials known.
- Large specimens are appreciated as gemstones, owing to their high refractive index. (Zircon has a refractive index of approximately 1.95; diamond's is approximately 2.4.)
- Zircon is one of the key minerals used by geologists for geochronology .
- Zircon is a part of the ZTR index to classify highly-weathered sediments.
