Zirkelite is a rare complex oxide mineral typically found in carbonatites and alkaline igneous complexes. Collectors look for its dark, often lustrous octahedral crystals, though it is frequently found as irregular grains associated with baddeleyite and other titanium-rich minerals.
Is this zirkelite?
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 zirkelite with a known reference. Zirkelite sits at Mohs 5.5-6.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Zirkelite leaves a yellowish brown streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Zirkelite typically shows a resinous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, dark brown, reddish brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: octahedral crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Zirkelite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Zirkelite leaves yellowish brown, Baddeleyite leaves white; luster reads resinous on Zirkelite and submetallic on Baddeleyite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Zirkelite leaves yellowish brown, Perovskite leaves white; luster reads resinous on Zirkelite and adamantine on Perovskite.
Often found alongside zirkelite
Minerals reported to co-occur with zirkelite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Ca,Th,Zr)Zr(Ti,Nb)₂O₇
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5-6.5
- Density
- 4.6-5.4 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellowish Brown
- Luster
- Resinous
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Octahedral Crystals, Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Alkaline Igneous Rocks, Carbonatites
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find zirkelite
Classic worldwide localities
- Jacupiranga Mine, Brazil
- Ontario, Canada
- Kola Peninsula, Russia
- Kaiserstuhl, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Look in alkaline igneous rocks, carbonatites country — that is the host setting where zirkelite typically forms. If you start seeing baddeleyite, magnetite, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a octahedral crystals, massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find zirkelite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
