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Zirkelite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Zirkelite
Ferdinand Zirkel
Formula:
(Ti,Ca,Zr)O2-x
Colour:
Black
Lustre:
Adamantine, Vitreous, Greasy, Sub-Metallic, Dull
Hardness:
5½
Specific Gravity:
4.741
Crystal System:
Isometric
Name:
Named after Ferdinand Zirkel (May 20, 1838 Bonn, Germany - June 12, 1912), Professor of Mineralogy, University of Lemberg, and later at the University of Leipzig, Germany. He was a pioneer in the microscopic investigation of rocks. Note: some sources erroneously list March as the birth month.
Type Locality:
Black grains or masses, rarely as simple to complex isometric crystals.
Compare the chemically related zirconolite.
Compare the chemically related zirconolite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4425
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4425:3
Similar Names
IMA Classification of Zirkelite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA status notes:
Redefined by the IMA
IMA Formula:
(Ti4+,Ca,Zr4+)O2-x
Approval year:
1960
Approval history:
Redefined 1989 s.p.: Bayliss et al. (1989).
Classification of Zirkelite
4.DL.05
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
L : With large (+- medium-sized) cations; fluorite-type structures
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
L : With large (+- medium-sized) cations; fluorite-type structures
8.2.5.1
8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
2 : A2B2O6(O,OH,F)
8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
2 : A2B2O6(O,OH,F)
7.10.8
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
10 : Oxides of Zr and Th
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
10 : Oxides of Zr and Th
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Zke | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Zirkelite
Adamantine, Vitreous, Greasy, Sub-Metallic, Dull
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Black
Comment:
May be brown when altered
Streak:
Brownish black
Hardness:
5½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
4.741 g/cm3 (Measured)
Comment:
May be lower due to alteration
Optical Data of Zirkelite
Type:
Isotropic
RI values:
nα = 2.5
Birefringence:
0.0
Surface Relief:
Unknown
Internal Reflections:
Reddish brown
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Comments:
Reddish brown in thin section
Chemistry of Zirkelite
Mindat Formula:
(Ti,Ca,Zr)O2-x
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Zirkelite
Crystal System:
Isometric
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.02 Å
Unit Cell V:
126.51 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Crystals as flattened octahedra.
Twinning:
On {111} very common, both polysynthetic and as complicated fourlings.
Comment:
Redefined in 1989 as the isometric structure of a set of related chemically minerals. Earlier definitions gave monoclinic symmetry but that material is now called zirconolite.
Crystal Structure
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2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0000893 | Zirkelite | Mazzi F, Munno R (1983) Calciobetafite (new mineral of the pyrochlore group) and related minerals from Campi Flegrei, Italy; crystal structures of polymignyte and zirkelite: comparison with pyrochlore and zirconolite American Mineralogist 68 262-276 |  | 1983 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0000869 | Zirkelite | Sinclair W, Eggleton R A (1982) Structure refinement of zirkelite from Kaiserstuhl, West Germany American Mineralogist 67 615-620 | | 1982 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.90 Å | (100) |
| 2.52 Å | (40) |
| 1.78 Å | (70) |
| 1.52 Å | (60) |
| 1.46 Å | (20) |
| 1.26 Å | (20) |
| 1.16 Å | (30) |
| 1.13 Å | (20) |
Comments:
ICDD-PDF 38-0450
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 1: Primary nebular phases | 4.567-4.561 |
| 3 : Solar nebular condensates (CAIs, AOAs, URIs) | >4.565 |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 36 : Carbonatites, kimberlites, and related igneous rocks | |
| 37 : Layered igneous intrusions and related PGE minerals |
Type Occurrence of Zirkelite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Black submetallic to vitreous grains and crystals.
Other Language Names for Zirkelite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.DL. | Xianhuaite-(La) | K2LaNb5O15 |
| 4.DL. | Xianhuaite-(Ce) | K2CeNb5O15 |
| 4.DL.05 | Uraninite | UO2 |
| 4.DL.05 | Aeschynite Group | AD2O6 |
| 4.DL.05 | Thorianite | ThO2 |
| 4.DL.05 | Cerianite-(Ce) | Ce4+O2 |
| 4.DL.10 | Tazheranite | (Zr,Ti,Ca)(O,◻)2 |
| 4.DL.10 | Hiärneite | Ca2Zr4Mn3+SbTiO16 |
| 4.DL.10 | Calzirtite | Ca2Zr5Ti2O16 |
| 4.DL.15 | Vorlanite | Ca(U6+)O4 |
Fluorescence of Zirkelite
Nonfluorescent
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Zirkelite in petrology
An essential component of rock names highlighted in red, an accessory component in rock names highlighted in green.
Internet Links for Zirkelite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4425.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Zirkelite
Reference List:
Hussak, E., Prior, G. T. (1895) Lewisite and Zirkelite, Two New Brazilian Minerals. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 11 (50) 80-88 doi:10.1180/minmag.1895.011.50.05
Blake, G. S. (1913) On varieties of Zirkelite from Ceylon. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 16 (77) 309-316 doi:10.1180/minmag.1913.016.77.02
Hogarth, D. D. (1977) Classification and nomenclature of the pyrochlore group. American Mineralogist, 62 (5-6) 403-410
Mazzi, Fiorenzo, Munno, Rosalba (1983) Calciobetafite (new mineral of the pyrochlore group) and related minerals from Campi Flegrei, Italy; crystal structures of polymignyte and zirkelite: comparison with pyrochlore and zirconolite. American Mineralogist, 68 (1-2) 262-276
Bayliss, Peter, Mazzi, Fiorenzo, Munno, Rosalba, White, Tim J. (1989) Mineral nomenclature: zirconolite. Mineralogical Magazine, 53 (373) 565-569 doi:10.1180/minmag.1989.053.373.07
Localities for Zirkelite
Showing 38 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Brazil | |
| Berger et al. (2009) +1 other reference |
| Oliveira et al. (2020) |
| Menezes et al. (1984) |
Canada | |
| Taseko |
| SAGE (1981) |
| Berger et al. (2009) |
| Nadeau et al. (2016) |
Czech Republic | |
| Novák |
Finland | |
| Vartiainen (1980) +22 other references |
Germany | |
| Wand et al. (1989) +3 other references |
Hungary | |
| Koch (1985) |
Italy | |
| Francesco Civero collection |
| H.E. Belkin et al. (silicte/saline/sulfur-rich/CO2) |
| Marchesini et al. (2025) |
Kazakhstan | |
| |
Norway | |
| Neumann (1985) |
Romania | |
| Hirtopanu (2006) |
Russia | |
| Dvorani (2016) |
| ... |
| ... | |
| Bulakh et al. (1998) +1 other reference |
| |
| Azarova et al. (2008) |
| ... | |
| ... |
| [World of Stones 12:49] | |
| Starikova et al. (2017) | |
Saudi Arabia | |
| Economic Geology (1996) |
South Africa | |
| Kamenetsky et al. (2014) |
| Gliddon (1996) |
Sri Lanka | |
| Blake (1913) +1 other reference |
UK | |
| Williams (1978) +1 other reference |
| Harding et al. (1982) |
USA | |
| Carnein et al. (2005) |
| Northrop et al. (1996) |
| Smith (1991) |
| Audétat (2010) |
Quick NavTopAbout ZirkeliteUnique IdentifiersSimilar NamesIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence Other LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatFluorescence Other InformationZirkelite in petrologyInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Palabora Mine, Phalaborwa, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa