Baddeleyite Locality: Phalaborwa , Limpopo Province , South Africa ( Locality at mindat.org ) Size: thumbnail, 2.5 x 2.2 x 1 cm Baddeleyite This is a world-class Baddeleyite with exceptionally sharp form and good lustre! Considering the sheer quality of the crystals, their wonderful vitreous luster, and deep black color, this must be considered as one of the world’s best examples of the species - and it is a perfect large thumb, to boot. 2.5 x 2.2 x 1 cm — Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0
Baddeleyite
Natural zirconium oxide — a rare, high-refractive-index mineral ranging from colorless to yellow, green or dark brown.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Baddeleyite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the oxides & hydroxide class, with the chemical formula ZrO₂.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group P2_1/c). It is a member of the Baddeleyite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 6.5; specific gravity 5.4–6.02; White to brownish white streak; Greasy to vitreous; nearly submetallic in black crystals luster; refractive index 2.173; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Bdy, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1893.
An accessory mineral in carbonatites and kimberlites; in syenites, diabases, gabbros, anorthosites; detrital in gem gravels. In lunar basalt, tektites, and meteorites.
It is found associated with Ilmenite, zirkelite, apatite, magnetite, perovskite (Jacupiranga mine, Brazil); fluorite, nepheline, pyrochlore, allanite (Monte Somma, Italy).
The name refers to Joseph Baddeley, who first called attention to the Sri Lankan material.