Zirkelite

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Zirkelite
General
Category Oxide mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
(Ti,Ca,Zr)O(2−x)
IMA symbol Zke [1]
Strunz classification 4.DL.05
Crystal system Isometric
Crystal class Hexoctahedral (m3m)
H-M symbol: (4/m 3 2/m)
Unit cell a = 5.02 Å, Z = 4
Identification
ColorBlack, reddish brown
Crystal habit Crystalline, metamict, pseudocubic
Cleavage None
Fracture Brittle
Luster Resinous
Streak Brownish grey
Diaphaneity Subtranslucent to opaque [2]
Density 4.7
Other characteristics Radioactive.svg Radioactive

Zirkelite is an oxide mineral with the chemical formula (Ca,Th,Ce)Zr(Ti,Nb)2 O 7. 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.

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Topaz</span> Silicate mineral

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lepidolite</span> Light micas with substantial lithium

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Petalite</span> Silicate mineral, used in ceramic glazing

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lazulite</span> Phosphate mineral

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sugilite</span> Violet-colored crystal

Sugilite ( SOO-gə-lyte, -⁠jee-) is a relatively rare pink to purple cyclosilicate mineral with the complex chemical formula KNa2(Fe, Mn, Al)2Li3Si12O30. Sugilite crystallizes in the hexagonal system with prismatic crystals. The crystals are rarely found and the form is usually massive. It has a Mohs hardness of 5.5–6.5 and a specific gravity of 2.75–2.80. It is mostly translucent. Sugilite was first described in 1944 by the Japanese petrologist Ken-ichi Sugi (1901–1948) for an occurrence on Iwagi Islet, Japan, where it is found in an aegirine syenite intrusive stock. It is found in a similar environment at Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada. In the Wessels mine in Northern Cape Province of South Africa, sugilite is mined from a strata-bound manganese deposit. It is also reported from Liguria and Tuscany, Italy; New South Wales, Australia and Madhya Pradesh, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apophyllite</span> Phyllosilicate mineral

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stichtite</span> Hydrotalcite group mineral

Stichtite is a mineral, a carbonate of chromium and magnesium; formula Mg6Cr2CO3(OH)16·4H2O. Its colour ranges from pink through lilac to a rich purple colour. It is formed as an alteration product of chromite containing serpentine. It occurs in association with barbertonite (the hexagonal polymorph of Mg6Cr2CO3(OH)16·4H2O), chromite and antigorite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zanazziite</span>

Zanazziite is a complex hydrated phosphate mineral from the roscherite group. It is a magnesium beryllium phosphate mineral. Zanazziite arises as barrel-shaped crystals and can reach up to 4 mm. It grows alongside quartz minerals. It is found in the crevices of Lavra da Ilha pegmatite, near Taquaral, in northeastern Minas Gerais, Brazil. Zanazziite is named after Pier F. Zanazzi. Zanazziite has an ideal chemical formula of Ca2Mg5Be4(PO4)6(OH)4·6H2O.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microlite</span>

Microlite was once known as a pale-yellow, reddish-brown, or black isometric mineral composed of sodium calcium tantalum oxide with a small amount of fluorine. Its chemical formula is(Na,Ca)2Ta2O6(O,OH,F). Today it is a name of a group of oxide minerals of a similar stoichiometry having tantalum prevailing over titanium and niobium. The microlite group belongs to a large pyrochlore supergroup that occurs in pegmatites and constitutes an ore of tantalum. It has a Mohs hardness of 5.5 and a variable specific gravity of 4.2 to 6.4. It occurs as disseminated microscopic subtranslucent to opaque octahedral crystals with a refractive index of 2.0 to 2.2. Microlite is also called djalmaite, but both names are now obsolete.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scorzalite</span>

Scorzalite ((Fe2+,Mg)Al2(OH,PO4)2) is a dark blue phosphate mineral containing iron, magnesium, and aluminium phosphate. Scorzalite forms one endmember of a solid solution series with the lighter, more magnesium-rich lazulite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alabandite</span> Sulfide mineral

Alabandite or alabandine is a rarely occurring manganese sulfide mineral. It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system with the chemical composition Mn2+S and develops commonly massive to granular aggregates, but rarely also cubic or octahedral crystals to 1 cm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serandite</span> Mineral

Serandite is a mineral with formula Na(Mn2+,Ca)2Si3O8(OH). The mineral was discovered in Guinea in 1931 and named for J. M. Sérand. Serandite is generally red, brown, black or colorless. The correct name lacks an accent.

References

  1. Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi: 10.1180/mgm.2021.43 . S2CID   235729616.
  2. "Zirkelite Mineral Data".