What is the term for zircons that have undergone significant radiation damage?

The term "metamict zircons" describes zircons that have experienced significant radiation damage. This occurs because zircon minerals can absorb radiation over time from surrounding radioactive elements, leading to structural changes within the crystal lattice. As a result of this radiation damage, metamict zircons often become less crystalline and may exhibit altered physical properties, such as changes in color or clarity.

This transformation uniquely characterizes metamict zircons, distinguishing them from other types of zircons, such as clear zircons, which maintain their original crystalline structure and transparency. Ground zircons and processed zircons do not specifically refer to the effects of radiation damage and instead may relate to physical modifications or treatments that do not involve structural degradation caused by radiation exposure. Thus, the term accurately captures the degree of alteration in the zircon crystal due to radiation, making it the correct choice.