Zirconolite-3O

specimen number:
2133235

location:
Stalaker Quarry, Tjolling, Langesundsfjord, Norway

description:
Lustrous crystallized zirconolite-3O embedded within matrix. Good example for the species.

Zirconolite-3O is a rare polytype of zirconolite, a calcium zirconium titanium oxide mineral known for its high stability and complex crystal chemistry. Geologically, it typically occurs as an accessory mineral in alkaline and ultrabasic igneous rocks, such as carbonatites, syenites, and kimberlites, where it forms through the concentration of incompatible elements like zirconium and hafnium. The "3O" designation refers to its specific orthorhombic crystal structure, which is one of several polytypic arrangements this mineral can adopt depending on the pressure and temperature conditions during formation. Historically, zirconolite-3O was first formally identified and described in the late 20th century from localities such as the Kovdor massif in Russia and the Kaiserstuhl in Germany. While not mined as a primary ore for zirconium, zirconolite and its polytypes are of immense interest to the nuclear industry because their robust crystal lattices can incorporate radioactive actinides, making them a leading candidate for synthetic rock (Synroc) materials designed for the long-term immobilization of high-level nuclear waste.

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