In Czech Republic, this form of zircon is a component of the U-Zr assemblage on the peneconcordant stratiform deposits in sandstones of northern Bohemia. Characteristic of this zircon is its metacolloidal to gel nature and other physical properties (low specific gravity, low aggregate hardness, and low refraction). It is so far known only from a few localities all over the world such as Wind River Formation in Wyoming. Does anyone know of a similar type of mineralization?
Dear Mr. Mikysek,
I know some transitions from zircon into coffenite and vice versa. But these examples have been derived from crystalline rocks of the Bohemian Massif. If there is an intermediate stage exhibiting the physical and crystallographical features you described from your hydrozircon, I did not investigate.
Good Luck
Harald G. Dill
This type of zircons are common in the Na-metasomatism-related uranium deposits. Please check my paper on the subject (Mineralium Deposita 2010, 45, 351-367) or Paul Polito's paper on the Mt Isa deposit. Both give mineralogical information about the zircons. I have also heard of "hydrothermal" zircons in other settings, but don't have a reference on hand. Hope this helps.
here is a paper on hydrothermal zircons: M. Toscano a, E. Pascual a,⁎, R.W. Nesbitt b, G.R. Almodóvar a, R. Sáez a, T. Donaire a, 2014, Geochemical discrimination of hydrothermal and igneous zircon in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, Spain. ore geology reviews 56, pp301-311
Huge resources of hydrozircon-containing ores have been found out close to the Algama River 15 km apart from the Ingili peralkaline complex in Khabarovsk Region (Far East of Russian Federation) - Algaminskoe deposit. Now it is being explored for future mining. The ore bodies are located in karstic dolostone marbles (NP3). Besides the hydrozircon, the ore is rich with fine-grained sheelite, baddeleyite and silica. Hydrozircon and baddeleyite have elevated Hf content (HfO2/ZrO2 up to 0.2). Urainium content is up to 0.15%. U is represented by coffinite and isomorfic impurity in zirconium minerals. I know the only Russian publication (monography) devoted to the deposit.
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