Zirkelite Explained

Zirkelite
Category:Oxide mineral
Imasymbol:Zke[1]
Strunz:4.DL.05
System:Isometric
Class:Hexoctahedral (mm)
H-M symbol: (4/m 2/m)
Unit Cell:a = 5.02 Å, Z = 4
Color:Black, reddish brown
Habit:Crystalline, metamict, pseudocubic
Cleavage:None
Fracture:Brittle
Luster:Resinous
Streak:Brownish grey
Diaphaneity:Subtranslucent to opaque[2]
Density:4.7
Other: Radioactive

Zirkelite is an oxide mineral with the chemical formula . 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.

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

References

Notes and References

  1. Warr. L.N.. 2021. IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine. 85. 3. 291–320. 10.1180/mgm.2021.43. 2021MinM...85..291W. 235729616. free.
  2. Web site: Zirkelite Mineral Data.