Calzirtite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Calzirtite
Formula:
Ca2Zr5Ti2O16
formerly given as: CaZr3TiO9
Colour:
Dark brown, nearly black
Lustre:
Adamantine, Sub-Metallic
Hardness:
6 - 7
Specific Gravity:
4.90 - 5.01
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Member of:
Name:
Named in allusion to its composition, containing CALcium, ZIRconium and TItanium.
This page provides mineralogical data about Calzirtite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
871
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:871:6
Similar Names
| Calcirudite | A synonym of 'Gravel-grade limestone' |
IMA Classification of Calzirtite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Ca2Zr4+5Ti4+2O16
First published:
1961
Classification of Calzirtite
4.DL.10
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
L : With large (+- medium-sized) cations; fluorite-type structures
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
L : With large (+- medium-sized) cations; fluorite-type structures
8.7.4.1
8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
7 : Miscellaneous
8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
7 : Miscellaneous
7.10.6
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
10 : Oxides of Zr and Th
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
10 : Oxides of Zr and Th
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Caz | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Calzirtite
Adamantine, Sub-Metallic
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Dark brown, nearly black
Streak:
Brown
Hardness:
6 - 7 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=625 - 1035 - Vickers
Comment:
Varies with direction
Tenacity:
Brittle
Parting:
Two partings at ∼80◦
Density:
4.90 - 5.01 g/cm3 (Measured) 5.15 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Calzirtite
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 2.19 - 2.27 nε = 2.26 - 2.36
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.070 - 0.090
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Anisotropism:
pronounced
Bireflectance:
Distinct in immersion, not observed in air
Colour in reflected light:
Light gray
Internal Reflections:
Strong, reddish brown
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Calzirtite
Mindat Formula:
Ca2Zr5Ti2O16
formerly given as: CaZr3TiO9
formerly given as: CaZr3TiO9
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Chemical Analysis
Oxide wt%:
| 1 | |
|---|---|
| ZrO2 | 70.64 % |
| TiO2 | 16.55 % |
| HfO2 | 1.10 % |
| CaO | 12.61 % |
| FeO | 0.20 % |
| Al2O3 | 0.11 % |
| Total: | 101.21 % |
Empirical formulas:
| Sample ID | Empirical Formula |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ca1.99(Zr4.95,Hf0.05)5.00 (Ti1.84,Zr0.13,Fe0.03,Al0.02)2.02 O16 |
Sample references:
| ID | Locality | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gabbro Quarry, Radau valley, Bad Harzburg, Goslar District, Lower Saxony, Germany | Polished grain mount. Fully calibrated quantitative analysis. Average composition from 50 analyses on 6 grains. |
Crystallography of Calzirtite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
I41/acd
Setting:
I41/acd
Cell Parameters:
a = 15.094 Å, c = 10.043 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.665
Unit Cell V:
2,288.08 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Morphology:
Prismatic, bipyramidal.
Twinning:
Trillings
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0019378 | Calzirtite | Callegari A, Mazzi F, Ungaretti P (1997) The crystal structure of orthorhombic calzirtite from Val Malenco (Italy) Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1997 467-480 | 1997 | Rocca Castellaccio, Val Malenco, Sondrio, Italy | 0 | 293 | |
| 0019377 | Calzirtite | Callegari A, Mazzi F, Ungaretti P (1997) The crystal structure of orthorhombic calzirtite from Val Malenco (Italy) Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1997 467-480 | 1997 | Rocca Castellaccio, Val Malenco, Sondrio, Italy | 0 | 293 | |
| 0019484 | Calzirtite | Rastsvetaeva R K, Pushcharovskii D Y, Spiridonov E M, Gekimyants V M (1995) Crystal structure of ordered calzirtite Ca2Zr5Ti2O16 magnetite deposit, Russia Crystallography Reports 40 746-748 | 1995 | Zelenets mine of the South Ural massif's Kusa titanium- | 0 | 293 | |
| 0019376 | Calzirtite | Rossell H J (1982) Calzirtite - A fluorite-related superstructure Acta Crystallographica B38 593-595 |  | 1982 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
| 0001034 | Calzirtite | Sinclair W, Eggleton R A, McLaughlin G M (1986) Structure refinement of calzirtite from Jacupiranga, Brazil American Mineralogist 71 815-818 |  | 1986 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.945 Å | (100) |
| 1.801 Å | (100) |
| 1.537 Å | (90) |
| 1.170 Å | (70) |
| 2.552 Å | (60) |
| 0.981 Å | (60) |
| 0.871 Å | (60) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 26 : Hadean detrital minerals | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks | |
| 36 : Carbonatites, kimberlites, and related igneous rocks |
Type Occurrence of Calzirtite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Tabular concretions 3x4x1 mm in size, composed of complex trillings. Single crystals are tetragonal, prismatic, bipyramidal.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 61743, 62363.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In metasomatic calcite forsterite-magnetite rocks of an alkalic ultrabasic massif.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Calzirtite
Relationship of Calzirtite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Calzirtite Group:
| Hiärneite | Ca2Zr4Mn3+SbTiO16 | Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I41/acd |
| Tazheranite | (Zr,Ti,Ca)(O,◻)2 | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 7 photos of Calzirtite associated with Spinel | MgAl2O4 |
| 3 photos of Calzirtite associated with Zirconolite | CaZrTi2O7 |
| 2 photos of Calzirtite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 2 photos of Calzirtite associated with Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| 2 photos of Calzirtite associated with Zircon | Zr(SiO4) |
| 1 photo of Calzirtite associated with Forsterite | Mg2(SiO4) |
| 1 photo of Calzirtite associated with Phlogopite | KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.DL. | Xianhuaite-(La) | K2LaNb5O15 |
| 4.DL. | Xianhuaite-(Ce) | K2CeNb5O15 |
| 4.DL.05 | Uraninite | UO2 |
| 4.DL.05 | Aeschynite Group | AD2O6 |
| 4.DL.05 | Zirkelite | (Ti,Ca,Zr)O2-x |
| 4.DL.05 | Thorianite | ThO2 |
| 4.DL.05 | Cerianite-(Ce) | Ce4+O2 |
| 4.DL.10 | Tazheranite | (Zr,Ti,Ca)(O,◻)2 |
| 4.DL.10 | Hiärneite | Ca2Zr4Mn3+SbTiO16 |
| 4.DL.15 | Vorlanite | Ca(U6+)O4 |
Fluorescence of Calzirtite
Does not fluoresce
Other Information
Notes:
Partly soluble when heated in concentrated H2SO4, H3PO4, or HCl.
Wavy red cathodoluminescence
Wavy red cathodoluminescence
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Calzirtite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-871.html
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References for Calzirtite
Reference List:
Bulakh, A. G., Anastasenko, G. F., Dakhiha, L. M. (1967) Calzirtite from carbonatites of northern Siberia. American Mineralogist, 52 (11-12) 1880-1884
IMA (1967) International Mineralogical Association: Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 36 (277) 131-136 doi:10.1180/minmag.1967.036.277.20
Rossell, H. J. (1982) Calzirtite – a fluorite-related superstructure. Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry, 38 (2) 593-595 doi:10.1107/s0567740882003446
Localities for Calzirtite
Showing 51 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
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Rocca Castellaccio, Ciappanico, Torre di Santa Maria, Sondrio Province, Lombardy, Italy