<p>Zirconium is a shape-shifting tough cookie, that is a tale of gemstones, medical implants and nuclear reactors, says Allan Blackman from AUT in ep 98 of Elemental.</p><p>Zirconium is a metal that is a shape-shifting tough cookie.</p><p>It is found in gemstones - think zircons and cubic zirconia, often known as &#x27;fake diamond.&#x27; Zirconia is nearly as hard as diamond and it is a refractory material that is pretty impervious to heat and pressure.</p><p>Zircons are tiny geological time capsules containing trace amounts of uranium and thorium that geologists can use to work out how old they are.</p><p>Zirconium alloyed with tin is used in nuclear reactors as it doesn&#x27;t corrode and isn&#x27;t itself radioactive, says Professor Allan Blackman from the Auckland University of Technology, in episode 98 of Elemental.</p><p><a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/elemental?share=elf_audio_2018725744">Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details</a></p>