This small zirconolite specimen comes from the Håkestad Quarry near Tjølling in Larvik Municipality, Vestfold, Norway. Several black, prismatic zirconolite crystals occur on and partly within a light-colored, feldspar-rich pegmatite matrix.
The crystals display a distinct luster and stand out clearly against the whitish to beige matrix. In addition to one broader crystal, several more slender, elongated crystals are distributed across different areas of the specimen.
Zirconolite from Håkestad
Zirconolite from the alkaline pegmatites of the Larvik region was historically often referred to as polymignite. Håkestad is a documented locality for zirconolite, and well-formed crystals in feldspar-rich matrix are also known from this site.
The specimen measures 3.0 × 3.5 × 1.2 cm and weighs 10 g. This makes it a compact miniature specimen with several clearly visible crystals.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Mineral | Zirconolite, historically also referred to as polymignite |
| Locality | Håkestad Quarry, Tjølling, Larvik, Vestfold, Norway |
| Dimensions | 3.0 × 2.5 × 1.2 cm |
| Weight | 10 g |
| Size category | Miniature specimen |
| Morphology | Several prismatic zirconolite crystals, partly embedded in the matrix |
| Matrix | Light-colored, feldspar-rich pegmatite matrix |
| Color | Black to very dark brown |
| Luster | Vitreous to resinous |
| Transparency | Opaque |
| Special Feature | Several zirconolite crystals from a classic Norwegian pegmatite locality |
















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