In this work, a series of zinc partially substituted magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3-xZnxO4, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4), were synthesised through a facile precipitation-oxidation method. The partial substitution of zinc into the magnetite (Fe3O4) structure was confirmed by the collective findings of nitrogen sorption, XRD and TG-DTG analysis. It was found that the partial substitution of zinc slightly changed the textural properties of the resultant Fe3-xZnxO4 nanoparticles. From the XRD analysis, there was no visible formation of secondary phase or impurity peaks in the nanoparticles. These findings indicated the partial substitution of zinc into the Fe3O4 crystal structure with a good dispersion within the Fe3O4 matrix. © 2016 Author(s).