Zirconolite

minerals

zirconium

wohlerite

zircon

Formula: (Ca,Y)Zr(Ti,Mg,Al)2O7
Multiple oxide, zirconium and titanium bearing mineral
Specific gravity: 4.8
Hardness: 5½
Streak: Dark brown
Colour: Black to brown, red
Environments

Plutonic igneous environments
Pegmatites
Carbonatites

Zirconolite occurs in pegmatites, carbonatites, kimberlite, syenite and sanidine-rich rocks; more rarely in ultramafic rocks and as a detrital mineral. Associated minerals include apatite, clinohumite, phlogopite, richterite, pyrochlore, baddeleyite, perovskite, titanite, pyrrhotite and calcite (HOM).

Localities

At Kaiserstuhl, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, zirconolite occurs in carbonatite (Dana).

At Monte de Procida, Campi Flegrei, Campania, Italy, zirconolite occurs in sanidine-rich rocks associated with a member of the pyrochlore group (Dana).

At Fredriksvärn, Larvik, Vestfold, Norway, zirconolite occurs in a pegmatite with magnetite, nepheline, zircon and pyrochlore (Dana).

The type locality is the Afrikanda complex, Murmansk Oblast, Russia.

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