Learning Center What is a mineral?The most common minerals on earth Information for Educators Mindat Articles The Elements The Rock H. Currier Digital Library Geologic Time

Minerals by Properties Minerals by Chemistry Advanced Locality Search Random Mineral Random Locality Search by minID Localities Near Me Search Articles Search Glossary More Search Options

The Mindat Manual Add a New Photo Rate Photos Locality Edit Report Coordinate Completion Report Add Glossary Item

Mining Companies Statistics Users Mineral Museums Clubs & Organizations Mineral Shows & Events The Mindat Directory Device Settings The Mineral Quiz

Photo Search Photo Galleries Search by Color New Photos Today New Photos Yesterday Members' Photo Galleries Past Photo of the Day Gallery Photography

Zirklerite

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered - questionable

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

Edit Add Synonym Edit CIF structures Clear Cache

Formula:

(Fe,Mg,Ca)₉Al₄Cl₁₈(OH)₁₂ · 14H₂O (?)

Colour:

Light grey

Hardness:

3½

Specific Gravity:

2.6

Crystal System:

Trigonal

Name:

Named after Bergrat Zirkler, Director of the potash works at Aschersleben (Germany).

Type Locality:

ⓘ Adolfsglück-Hope mine, Lindwedel, Schwarmstedt, Heidekreis, Lower Saxony, Germany

This page provides mineralogical data about Zirklerite.

Hide all sections | Show all sections

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

4426

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:4426:0

GUID
(UUID V4):

86bba50f-ed70-433e-be13-82a75eb290e3

IMA Classification of ZirkleriteHide

IMA status:

Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959), Questionable

IMA Formula:

(Fe,Mg)₉Al₄Cl₁₈(OH)₁₂ · 14H₂O (?)

First published:

1928

Type description reference:

Harbort, E. (1928) Über Zirklerit. Ein neues durch Thermo-Dynamometamorphose gebildetes Mineral aus einigen Salzstöcken der norddeutschen Tiefebene.. Kali und verwandte Salze Zeitschrift für D. Kali- U. Steinsalzindustrie Sowie das Salinenwesen: 22: 157-161 .

Classification of ZirkleriteHide

Strunz-mindat (2024):

3.CJ.30

3 : HALIDES
C : Complex halides
J : With MX₆ complexes; M = Fe, Mn, Cu

Dana 8th ed.:

10.6.5.1

10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
6 : A_mB_n(O,OH)_pX_q

Hey's CIM Ref.:

8.6.19

8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
6 : Halides of Al

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Symbol	Source	Reference
Zkl	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 ZirkleriteHide

Transparency:

Translucent

Colour:

Light grey

Hardness:

3½ on Mohs scale

Cleavage:

Distinct/Good
Rhombohedral

Density:

2.6 g/cm³ (Measured)

Optical Data of ZirkleriteHide

Type:

Uniaxial (+)

RI values:

n_ω = 1.522 n_ε = 1.552

Birefringence:

birefringence < 0.009.

Max Birefringence:

δ = 0.030

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.

Surface Relief:

Low

Chemistry of ZirkleriteHide

Mindat Formula:

(Fe,Mg,Ca)₉Al₄Cl₁₈(OH)₁₂ · 14H₂O (?)

Elements listed:

Al, Ca, Cl, Fe, H, Mg, O - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Common Impurities:

Crystallography of ZirkleriteHide

Crystal System:

Trigonal

Morphology:

Massive; granular to fibrous.

Comment:

Point Group: n.d.; Space Group: n.d. Z =n.d.

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
- Å	()

Comments:

No published powder pattern data.

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Near-surface Processes
25 : Evaporites (prebiotic)

Type Occurrence of ZirkleriteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Adolfsglück-Hope mine, Lindwedel, Schwarmstedt, Heidekreis, Lower Saxony, Germany

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1929,40.

Geological Setting of Type Material:

Breccia-like layers in a bedded evaporite deposit.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Rinneite	Quartz	Halite	Dolomite	Chlorite Group
Anhydrite

Reference:

Download:

https://rruff.info/rruff_1.0/uploads/ZKSSDS22_157.pdf

Other Language Names for ZirkleriteHide

German:Zirklerit

Spanish:Zirklerita

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

3.CJ.05	Chlormanganokalite	K₄[MnCl₆]	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
3.CJ.05	Rinneite	K₃Na[FeCl₆]	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
3.CJ.05	Saltonseaite	K₃NaMnCl₆	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
3.CJ.10	Erythrosiderite	K₂[Fe³⁺Cl₅(H₂O)]	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
3.CJ.10	Kremersite	(NH₄,K)₂[Fe³⁺Cl₅(H₂O)]	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
3.CJ.15	Mitscherlichite	K₂CuCl₄ · 2H₂O	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4₂/mnm
3.CJ.20	Douglasite	K₂[Fe²⁺Cl₄(OH₂)₂]	Mon. 2/m
3.CJ.25	Redikortsevite	(NH₄)MgCl₃ · 6H₂O	Orth.
3.CJ.30	Kalithallite	K₃Tl³⁺Cl₆ · 2H₂O	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4/mmm

Other InformationHide

Notes:

Decomposed by water with separation of Al203 and Fe(OH)2

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 ZirkleriteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-4426.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Search Engines:

Look for Zirklerite on Google

Look for Zirklerite images on Google

Look for Zirklerite on Bing

Look for Zirklerite images on Bing

Look for Zirklerite on DuckDuckGo

Look for Zirklerite images on DuckDuckGo

Look for Zirklerite in the Rock H. Currier Digital Library

External Links:

Look for Zirklerite on Webmineral

Look for Zirklerite on Wikipedia

Look for Zirklerite on Mineralien Atlas

Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

Mineral Dealers:

High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service

Buy from David K Joyce minerals

Wilensky Exquisite Minerals

Fine Minerals from Weinrich Minerals, Inc.

Blue Gems Australian & International

Buy rare minerals from Excalibur Minerals

The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals

Buy from McDougall Minerals

References for ZirkleriteHide

Reference List:

Foshag, W.F. (1928) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 13: 592-593.

Palache, Charles, Berman, Harry, Frondel, Clifford (1951) The System of Mineralogy (7th ed.) Vol. 2 - Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Ect. John Wiley and Sons, New York.

(2023) Zirklerite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for ZirkleriteHide

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the

symbol to view information about a locality. The

symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

Locality ListHide

- 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). ~~Struck out~~ - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.

Germany (TL)

Lower Saxony

Heidekreis

Schwarmstedt

Lindwedel

ⓘ Adolfsglück-Hope mine (TL)

Palache et al. (1951)

Quick NavTop Unique Identifiers IMA Classification Classification Mineral Symbols Physical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography X-Ray Powder Diffraction Geological Environment Type Occurrence Other Languages Strunz-Mindat Other Information Internet Links References Localities Locality List