A new compositional variety of zirconolite characterized by high Mg, Al, Y₂O₃ and REE, and low Fe is described from a sapphirine granulite xenolith entrained in an intrusive norite body which was emplaced into the late Archaean (2520–2480 Ma) Vestfold Hills high-grade terrain during the early Proterozoic. The zirconolite, and similarly Mg-Al rich perrierite-(Ce), formed as a result of sanidinite facies partial melting of the particularly magnesian and aluminous sapphirine granulite xenolith during its incorporation into the c. 1170°C basic magma at c. 2240 Ma. The high REE compared to Al cations require that a previously unrecognized coupled substitution: REE.REE.(Mg,Fe).Ca_−2.Ti₋₁ occurs in this zirconolite. Full chemical analyses are presented for zirconolite and perrierite from this unique occurrence.