Log InRegister
Search For:
Mineral Name:
Locality Name:
Keyword(s):
 
Home PageAbout MindatThe Mindat ManualHistory of MindatCopyright StatusWho We AreOur ScienceMindat Newsletter [Free Download]Contact Us
Donate to MindatSponsor a PageCorporate SponsorshipSponsored Pages
Learning CenterWhat Is a Mineral?The Most Common Minerals on EarthInformation for EducatorsMindat ArticlesMindat Newsletter [Free Download]The ElementsThe Mineral Quiz
Minerals by PropertiesMinerals by ChemistryMineral Visual ExplorerAdvanced Locality SearchRandom MineralRandom LocalitySearch by minIDMinerals by CountryAlphabetical Mineral IndexAlphabetical Locality SearchMineral Association SearchList of CountriesLocalities Near MePhoto SearchSearch ArticlesSearch GlossaryThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryMore Search Options
The Mindat ManualAdd a New PhotoRate PhotosLocality Edit ReportCoordinate Completion ReportAdd Glossary Item
MineralsPetrologyFossilsMeteoritesGeologic Time
Mining CompaniesStatisticsMineral MuseumsClubs & OrganizationsMineral Shows & EventsDevice SettingsTime Machine
Read DiscussionsIdentification Request
Photo SearchPhoto GalleriesSearch by ColourPhoto Colour ExplorerNew Photos TodayNew Photos YesterdayMembers' Photo GalleriesPast Photo of the Day GalleryPhotography

Zagamiite

A valid IMA mineral species
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
08243190017761984618102.jpg
Zagamiite

Northwest Africa 856 Martian meteorite, Northwest Africa Meteorites
08243190017761984618102.jpg
Zagamiite

Northwest Africa 856 Martian meteorite, Northwest Africa Meteorites
08243190017761984618102.jpg
Zagamiite

Northwest Africa 856 Martian meteorite, Northwest Africa Meteorites
Hide all sections | Show all sections

About ZagamiiteHide

05718450017271953162698.jpg
Zagami, Nigeria
Formula:
CaAl2Si3.5O11
Colour:
colorless
Specific Gravity:
3.79 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Name:
Named for the locality Zagami, Nigeria, where the Zagami meteorite fell. The meteorite provided the type material.
New structure type.
Found in shock melt pockets in meteorite (basaltic shergottite).


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
51594
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:51594:2

Similar NamesHide

IMA Classification of ZagamiiteHide

Classification of ZagamiiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
9.HA.47

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
H : Unclassified silicates
A : With Alkali and Alkali-earth Elements

Mineral SymbolsHide

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

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
ZagIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of ZagamiiteHide

Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colorless
Density:
3.79 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Chemistry of ZagamiiteHide

Mindat Formula:
CaAl2Si3.5O11
Element Weights:
Element% weight
O47.781 %
Si26.688 %
Al14.651 %
Ca10.881 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
O
Si
Al
Ca
Elements listed:
Al, Ca, O, Si - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of ZagamiiteHide

Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P63/mmc
Setting:
P63/mmc
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.403(2) Å, c = 12.77(3) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 2.364
Unit Cell V:
322.84 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
2.701 Å(29)
2.638 Å(49)
2.488 Å(20)
2.197 Å(15)
2.050 Å(100)
1.575 Å(67)
1.547 Å(22)
1.351 Å(44)
Locality:
Zagami Martian meteorite, Faskari, Katsina, Nigeria
Reference:
Ma, Chi, Tschauner, Oliver, Beckett, John R., Greenberg, Eran, Prakapenka, Vitali B. (2024) Zagamiite, CaAl2Si3.5O11, the Hexagonal High-Pressure CAS Phase with Dominant Si, as a Mineral from Mars. Minerals, 14 (1) doi:10.3390/min14010018
Comments:
From Type Description.

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 2: Planetesimal differentiation and alteration4.566-4.550
6 : Secondary asteroid phases4.566-4.560
Stage 5: Initiation of plate tectonics<3.5-2.5
39 : High-? metamorphism (blueschist, eclogite, ultrahigh ? facies)

Type Occurrence of ZagamiiteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Zagami Martian meteorite, Faskari, Katsina, Nigeria
General Appearance of Type Material:
fine-grained prismatic crystals, less than 50 nm × 100 nm to 400 nm × 1 μm in size, within shock melt pockets
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the mineralogical collections of the the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC, USA, registration number USNM 7619 (Zagami), and the E. Stolper’s Martian Meteorite Collection of the Divis
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Shock melt pockets in basaltic shergottites
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
'Maskelynite'AugitePigeoniteStishovite
Reference:
Ma, Chi, Tschauner, Oliver, Beckett, John R., Greenberg, Eran, Prakapenka, Vitali B. (2024) Zagamiite, CaAl2Si3.5O11, the Hexagonal High-Pressure CAS Phase with Dominant Si, as a Mineral from Mars. Minerals, 14 (1) doi:10.3390/min14010018

Synonyms of ZagamiiteHide

Other Language Names for ZagamiiteHide

Dutch:Zagamiiet
German:Zagamiit

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
1 photo of Zagamiite associated with StöffleriteCaAl2Si2O8
1 photo of Zagamiite associated with Pigeonite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
1 photo of Zagamiite associated with 'Maskelynite'
1 photo of Zagamiite associated with StishoviteSiO2

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

9.HA.ShinichengiteCa5[BSi2O7(OH)2]2 · 6H2OTric. 1 : P1
9.HA.Kalyuzhnyite-(Ce)NaKCaSrCeTi(Si8O21)OF(H2O)3Mon. 2/m : P2/b
9.HA.MoragiteCa3TiSi2(Al2Si)O14Trig. 32 : P321
9.HA.05ErtixiiteNa2Si4O9Iso.
9.HA.10KenyaiteNa2Si22O41(OH)8 · 6H2OMon.
9.HA.20WawayandaiteCa6Mn2BBe9Si6O23(OH,Cl)15Mon.
9.HA.25MagbasiteKBaFe3+Mg7Si8O22(OH)2F6Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmma
9.HA.35DemagistrisiteBaCa2Mn3+4(Si3O10)(Si2O7)(OH)4 · 3H2OOrth. mm2 : Amm2
9.HA.37DonwilhelmsiteCaAl4Si2O11Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
9.HA.40KasatkiniteBa2Ca8B5Si8O32(OH)3 · 6H2O Mon.
9.HA.40'Igumnovite'Ca3Al2[SiO4]2[◻Cl4]Iso.
9.HA.42PaqueiteCa3TiSi2(Al,Ti,Si)3O14Trig. 32 : P321
9.HA.42QeltiteCa3TiSi2(Fe3+2Si)O14Trig. 32 : P321
9.HA.45RippiteK2(Nb,Ti)2(Si4O12)O(O,F)Tet.
9.HA.50RudenkoiteSr3(Al3.5Si3.5)O10(OH,O)8Cl2 · H2OMon.
9.HA.50'α-Carnegieite'NaAlSiO4
9.HA.52'Atheriastite'near Ca5MgFeAl6Si8O32 · 5H2O
9.HA.55'Foshallasite'Ca3[Si2O7] · 3H2O(?)
9.HA.57'Bhreckite'
9.HA.60NagelschmidtiteCa7(SiO4)2(PO4)2Hex. 6 : P61
9.HA.65Caryochroite[Na(Sr0.5Ca0.5)Mg]3[Fe3+8Mn(Fe2+0.5◻0.5)]10(Ti2Si12O37)(OH)14(H2O)3 Mon. 2/m
9.HA.70JuaniteCa10Mg4Al2Si11O39 · 4H2O or nearOrth.
9.HA.75TacharaniteCa12Al2Si18O33(OH)36Mon.
9.HA.80OyeliteCa10Si8B2O29 · 12.5H2OTric. 1 : P1
9.HA.85DenisoviteK14+x(Ca,Na,Mn,Fe)48[Si60O162]F16(Ox,OH4-x) · 2H2OMon.
9.HA.90TiettaiteK4Na12Fe3+Si16O41(OH)4 · 2H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmcm

Other InformationHide

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 ZagamiiteHide

References for ZagamiiteHide

Localities for ZagamiiteHide

Showing 4 localities.

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.
Hide all sections | Show all sections

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.
India
 
  • Bihar
    • Gaya District
Ma et al. (2021)
Nigeria (TL)
 
  • Katsina
    • Faskari
Mineralogical Magazine +3 other references
Northwest Africa Meteorites
 
Fudge et al. (2018)
Ma et al. (2019)
Quick NavTopAbout ZagamiiteUnique IdentifiersSimilar NamesIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Chemistry Crystallography X-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
 
and/or  
Mindat.org® is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Mindat® and mindat.org® are registered trademarks of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2026, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau.
Content on this site may not be used to train, fine-tune, or otherwise develop artificial intelligence or machine learning models without prior written permission - see our Terms & Conditions.
To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833–844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: October 13, 2026 17:07:11 Page updated: October 3, 2026 14:15:58
Go to top of page