zirconolite

mineral

Also known as: zirkelite

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Last updated

July 15, 2026

Quick Summary

Zirconolite is a mineral composed of calcium, zirconium, and titanium, with the chemical formula CaZrTi₂O₇. It is a significant mineral for uranium-lead dating, particularly in silica-poor mafic igneous rocks.1

Zirconium, the primary element in zirconolite, is a metal of Group 4 in the periodic table. It is found in the Earth's crust, primarily in the mineral zircon (ZrSiO₄), which is the main commercial source of zirconium. Zirconia, or zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂), is another important compound derived from zircon.23

The uranium-lead dating method, often utilizing zircon, is a precise technique for determining the age of rocks. Zircon's crystal structure efficiently incorporates uranium while excluding lead, and it is highly resistant to change, making it ideal for dating geological events. Zirconolite, along with zircon and baddeleyite, are minerals amenable to this dating method.1

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dating
Uranium–lead method
Today, however, baddeleyite (ZrO₂) and zirconolite (CaZrTi₂O₇) have been found to be widespread in the silica-poor mafic igneous rocks. In addition, perovskite (CaTiO₃), a common constituent of some ultramafic igneous rocks, has been shown to be amenable to precise uranium–lead dating. As a result of these developments, virtually all igneous…
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Today, however, baddeleyite (ZrO₂) and zirconolite (CaZrTi₂O₇) have been found to be widespread in the silica-poor mafic igneous rocks. In addition, perovskite (CaTiO₃), a common constituent of some ultramafic igneous rocks, has been shown to be amenable to precise uranium–lead dating. As a result of these developments, virtually all igneous…
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materials science
Radioactive waste
…of mineral mixtures such as zirconolite and perovskite. These are very insoluble and, in their natural state, are known to have sequestered radioactive elements for hundreds of millions of years. They are crystalline, ceramic materials whose crystal structures allow radioactive atoms to be immobilized within them. They are not subject…
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…of mineral mixtures such as zirconolite and perovskite. These are very insoluble and, in their natural state, are known to have sequestered radioactive elements for hundreds of millions of years. They are crystalline, ceramic materials whose crystal structures allow radioactive atoms to be immobilized within them. They are not subject…
Read More