Analyzed polished section of the very rare zirconium mineral lakargiite from the TL in Lakargi Mountains (Lakargi Mountain, Upper Chegem Caldera, Baksan Valley, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russian Federation). Ex. Erich Laskowski collection (USA). — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY 4.0
Lakargiite
Lakargiite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the oxides & hydroxide class, with the chemical formula CaZrO₃.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group Pnma). It is a member of the Perovskite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 8–9; specific gravity 4.587; Light-brown to cream-white streak; Vitreous to adamantine, submetallic for dark varieties luster.
IMA symbol Lak, IMA status: approved, named in 2007.
Found in high-temperature skarns formed in sanidinite-facies conditions of contact metamorphism in carbonate-silicate rocks found as xenoliths in ignimbrites.
It is found associated with Spurrite, larnite, calcio-olivine, calcite, cuspidine, rondorfite, reinhardbraunsite, wadalite, perovskite, minerals of the ellestadite group.
The name refers to Lakargi Mountain, Russia.