Pyrochlore is a common accessory mineral in granite pegmatites, nepheline syenites and carbonatites. The general chemical formular is A2-mB2X6-wY1-n • pH2O where A includes Na, Ca, U, Th , Pb, REE, Ba and Sr; B includes Nb, Ta, Ti, Zr and Fe; X = O and OH; Y = O, OH and F. The ability to accomodate many different elements leads to a wide range of pyrochlore varieties.
In Sokli (Finland) pyrochlore composition (more…)

Pyrochlore, ideally (Ca,Na)2(Nb5O6)(OH,F), is a relatively common accessory mineral in many rock-types including carbonatites. In the Sokli carbonatite, N. Finland, pyrochlore concentrates to economically important amounts, where it forms the ore mineral of niobium. (more…)