Zirconolite is a rare accessory mineral typically found in silica-undersaturated igneous rocks like carbonatites and alkaline syenites. Collectors prize it for its high density and status as a primary mineral host for radioactive elements like thorium and uranium in geological systems.
Is this zirconolite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch zirconolite with a known reference. Zirconolite sits at Mohs 5.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Zirconolite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Zirconolite typically shows a submetallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, brown, yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Zirconolite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside zirconolite
Minerals reported to co-occur with zirconolite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaZrTi₂O₇
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5
- Density
- 4.3-5.2 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Carbonatites, Alkaline Igneous Rocks, Nepheline Syenites
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen size and radioactivity levels
Where rockhounds find zirconolite
Classic worldwide localities
- Campanian Province, Italy
- Kaiserstuhl, Germany
- Magnet Cove, USA
- Kola Peninsula, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in carbonatites, alkaline igneous rocks, nepheline syenites country, the host setting where zirconolite typically forms. If you start seeing perovskite, baddeleyite, apatite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify zirconolite?+
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Find zirconolite on the map
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