Metamictisation

Metamictisation is a process that occurs primarily in certain minerals, especially zircon and other uranium-containing silicate minerals, where the crystalline structure becomes disordered due to the accumulation of radiation damage over time. This damage typically results from the decay of radioactive isotopes present within the mineral, such as uranium and thorium. As these isotopes decay, they emit alpha particles and other forms of radiation, which displace atoms in the crystal lattice, leading to a gradual breakdown of the ordered structure.