The kinetics of reduction of zircon by carbon have been investigated in the temperature range 1400-1650-degrees-C. Volatilization of SiO permits production of zirconia of about 96% purity direct from zircon with 100% removal of the silicon content being achieved in less than 2 h at 1650-degrees-C. Addition of MgO, Y2O3 or CaO stabilizers to zircon prior to the reduction permits direct production of partially stabilized zirconia from zircon by means of carbothermic reduction. The presence of such stabilizers has been found to produce a slight increase in the reduction of kinetics of zircon.