Category Oxide mineral Strunz classification 4.DL.05 Unit cell a = 5.02 Å, Z = 4 | Formula
(repeating unit) (Ti,Ca,Zr)O(2-x) Crystal system Isometric | |
Crystal class Hexoctahedral (m3m)
H-M symbol: (4/m 3 2/m) | ||
Zirkelite is an oxide mineral with formula: (Ca,Th,Ce)Zr(Ti,Nb)2O7. It occurs as well-formed fine sized isometric crystals. It is a black, brown or yellow mineral with a hardness of 5.5 and a specific gravity of 4.7.
Contents
Name and discovery
Zirkelite was first discovered in Brazil in 1895. It was named for German petrographer Ferdinand Zirkel (1838–1912).
Occurrence
Initial discovery was from the Jacupiranga carbonatite, Sao Paulo, Brazil. It is also found in Canada, Kazakhstan, Norway, Russia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
References
Zirkelite Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA