Chemical feature of Yttrian Zirconolite from the Sor Rondane Mountains, Antarctica

Abstract

Zirconolite (CaZrTi₂O₇) is rare oxide minerals. We found yttrian zirconolite from the Sor Rondane Mountains, East Antarctica. The zirconolite is found from a Mg-Al rich, Si-poor granulite facies skarn. The skarn rocks contain several kinds of Zr, Ti, REE, and U-Th bearing minerals. These are uraninite, polycrase-(Y), zircon, baddeleyite, geikielite, rutile, and magnesiohogbomite-2N4S. Ca-site of our zirconolite is replaced by REE over 80%. The chemical formula is (REE, U, Th) (Zr, Hf) (Ti, Al, Fe, Mg)₂ O₇.