Zinc　(Zn)　isotope　geochemistry　is　a　powerful　tool　for　tracing　Zn　biogeochemical　cycling　in　terrestrial　ecosystems.　This　review　comprehensively　synthesizes　Zn　isotope　signatures　and　fractionation　mechanisms　in　atmospheric,　soil,　aquatic,　and　plant　systems,　integrating　laboratory　experiments　and　field　observations.　Laboratory　studies　have　identified　key　drivers　of　Zn　isotope　fractionation,　including　mineral　dissolution-precipitation,　adsorption　onto　mineral　surfaces,　and　organic　complexation.　Field　studies　show　that　interactions,　particularly　the　competition　between　OM　and　(hydr)oxides,　dominate　Zn　isotope　compositions,　with　OM-rich　soils　exhibiting　relatively　lower　δ66Zn　values.　Anthropogenic　activities　significantly　influence　Zn　isotope　signatures.　Agricultural　practices　exert　an　insignificant　effect　on　natural　δ66Zn;　traffic　emissions　exhibit　slightly　light　Zn　isotope　compositions;　urban　emissions　(e.g.,　electroplating)　and　industrial　processes　(e.g.,　smelting)　are　the　predominant　Zn　sources,　inducing　significant　Zn　isotopic　offsets.　Plants　preferentially　uptake　64Zn,　while　selective　retention　of　66Zn　in　root　cell　walls　may　cover　the　uptake　preference.　Furthermore,　translocation　within　plants　occurs　through　low-affinity　(diffusion-driven)　and　high-affinity　(carrier　protein-mediated)　pathways,　favoring　64Zn　and　66Zn,　respectively.　These　mechanisms　collectively　govern　Zn　isotopic　variations.　Despite　progress,　key　knowledge　gaps　remain,　particularly　in　quantifying　intracellular　isotope　fractionation　and　disentangling　multi-process　interactions　under　natural　conditions.　Future　research　should　integrate　multi-isotope　tracers　(e.g.,　Zn-Cd-Pb),　spatially　resolved　microanalytical　techniques,　and　predictive　modeling　to　refine　pollution　tracing　and　advance　mechanistic　understanding　of　Zn　cycling.　By　bridging　laboratory　insights　with　ecosystem-scale　observations,　this　review　highlights　the　potential　of　Zn　isotopes　to　address　environmental　challenges,　from　tracing　metal　pollution　to　guiding　sustainable　resource　management　in　the　Anthropocene.　©　2025　Elsevier　B.V.