Zircon is a mineral commonly used in geochronology and isotopic dating due to its ability to preserve age information about rocks and geological events. It is a durable and resistant mineral that can survive multiple geologic processes, making it a valuable tool for dating the ages of rocks and understanding the history of the Earth's formation. Zircon is often found in igneous and metamorphic rocks and is characterized by its distinctive tetragonal crystal structure. Researchers use techniques such as U-Pb dating to determine the age of zircon crystals and gain insights into the timing of geological events such as the formation of mountain ranges or the evolution of the Earth's crust.