2615.10.00.00 - Zirconium ores and concentrates

This HTS category, 2615.10.00.00, specifically encompasses ores and concentrates of zirconium. Ores, in this context, refer to naturally occurring rocks or minerals from which zirconium can be extracted, while concentrates are the partially processed materials that have undergone initial beneficiation to increase the zirconium content and remove impurities. This classification is dedicated solely to these raw or semi-processed forms of zirconium-bearing materials.

Distinguishing this category from its sibling, 2615.90 (Other), is straightforward. While 2615.90 serves as a catch-all for ores and concentrates of other specified metals not otherwise classified within heading 2615 (such as niobium, tantalum, or vanadium), 2615.10.00.00 is exclusively reserved for zirconium. Therefore, any ore or concentrate that is primarily composed of zirconium and not meeting the criteria for other headings would fall under this specific subheading.

As this is a leaf node in the HTS classification, there are no further subcategories within 2615.10.00.00. Classification within this code relies on the material being an ore or concentrate and having zirconium as its principal constituent. Examples of such materials include zircon sand and baddeleyite, which are the primary sources of zirconium. The intent is to capture these raw inputs before further refining or manufacturing into semi-finished or finished zirconium products.