Zirkelite

 IMA-A (GP) 1989-RED
Thorium 8.2.5.1
(Dana Classification Number)
(Images) 4/C.15-10
(Strunz ID)

Property Data Remarks
Named for: Ferdinand Zirkel (1838-1912), German petrographer, Professor of Mineralogy, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
Alternate
    Name(s):
  • Polymignite-metamict
    		•   
    Mineral Class: Oxides & Hydroxides -
    - Pyrochlore group, Zirkelite - Zirconolite series    		  
    Chemical
        Formula:    		 (Ca,Th,Ce)Zr(Ti,Nb)2O7  
    Chemical
        Composition:
    Aluminum: (Al) 0.68%
    Calcium: (Ca) 6.06%
    Iron: (Fe) 1.41%
    Magnesium: (Mg) 0.61%
    Manganese: (Mn) 1.38%
    Oxygen: (O) 28.21%
    Sodium: (Na) 1.16%
    Titanium: (Ti) 9.65%
    Thorium: (Th) 5.85%
    Zirconium: (Zr) 41.37%
    REE2O3:
      Lanthanum
      Cerium
      Praeseodymium
      Neodymium
      Samarium
    (La)
    (Ce)
    (Pr)
    (Nd)
    (Sm)    		 |
    |
    |
    |
    |
    |    		 3.63%
    		by weight
    Molecular
        Weight:    		 396.96 daltons (amu)
    Specific
        Radioactivity:

    (All radiation is for a 1 gram, fully aged specimen)

    Specific Activity Dose Rate
    Becquerels Curies milliRems/hour microSieverts/hour
    2.716 × 1003 7.34 × 10-08 0.04 3.92

    Estimated Average Annual Exposure: 360 mRem (3.6 milliSieverts)
    Crystalography:
    System: Monoclinic - Prismatic
    Axial Ratios: a:b:c = 1.7207:1:1.5895
    Cell Dimensions: a = 12.431, b = 7.224, c = 11.483, Z = 8; beta = 100.33° V = 1,014.48 Den(Calc) = 5.20
    H-M Symbol: 2/m
    Space Group: C2/c
    X Ray Diffraction: By Intensity(I/Io): 2.931(1) 2.824(0.39) 2.507(0.26)
    		Zirkelite
    Crystal
    Habit:
  • Pseudo Cubic
  • Crystalline (Fine)
    		•   
    Cleavage: None  
    Fracture: Brittle - Conchoidal  
    Moh's
        Hardness:    		 5.5  
    Density: 4.7 grams/cm3
    Color: Black  
    Streak: Brownish gray  
    Luster: Resinous  
    Diaphaneity: Subtranslucent to Opaque  
    Pleochroism:
    (x):
    (y:)
    (z:)
    		 
    Ultra Violet
        Fluorescence:
    Long Wave:
    Short Wave:
    		 
    Magnetism: Non-magnetic  
    Occurance:
  • Found with Baddeleyite in decomposed magnetite-pyroxenite. Dimorphous with calciobetafite
  		•   
    Associated
        Minerals:

    Actinolite, Aegirine, Albite, Ancylite-(Ce), Ankerite, 'Apatite', Aragonite, Baddeleyite, Barite, Biotite, Burbankite, Calcite, Catapleiite, 'Chabazite', Chalcopyrite, Covellite, Cubanite, Diopside, Dolomite, Fluorapatite, Fluorite, Forsterite, Galena, Hematite, Ilmenite, Labuntsovite-Mn, Lorenzenite, Magnesite, Magnetite, Marcasite, Monazite-(Ce), Natrolite, Nepheline, Pectolite, Perovskite, Phlogopite, Pyrite, Pyrochlore, Pyrrhotite, Quartz, Richterite, Saponite, Schorlomite, Shortite, Sphalerite, Strontianite, Thorite, Titanite, Tremolite, Vermiculite, Wollastonite, Zircon, Zirconolite

    Mineral   -   > 83% of sites
    Mineral   -   > 67% of sites
    Mineral   -   > 40% of sites
    Minerals   -   Uranium & Thorium
    mineral links

    		These are minerals known to be found with Zirkelite
    Locations:

    Rare

    Zirkelite Locations
    Notes:

    Radioactive a- and b-particles, g-rays.

    Crystals may be metamic.

    Zirkelite Images

    Specimen Top
    (001a) (001b) (001c) (001d)
    (001e)
       
    Palabora Open Pit mine, Loolekop, Phalaborwa, Limpopo Province, Transvaal, Republic of South Africa


    Specimen Notes

    Occurrence -  

     

      -  

     

    Specimen Physical Properties
    Weight: x grams    
    g-Radiation Level:   cmp   msieverts background: 20 cpm