Lunar zirkelite - A uranium-bearing phase.

Zirkelite (simplified CaZrTiO5) containing 7-17 wt % oxides of trivalent elements (largely yttrium and the rare earths) and minor amounts of U, Th, and Pb is described from an Apollo 12 feldspathic peridotite (12036,9) and two KREEP-type norite lithic fragments separated from Apollo 14 loose fines (14163,39 and 14257,3). Quantitative electron microprobe analyses indicate that this lunar phase conforms more closely to the zirkelite formula than the zirconolite formula.