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Fersmite

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Big Photo

Alpe Rosso, Orcesco, Druogno, Vigezzo Valley, Ossola Valley, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province, Piedmont, Italy
© D.Preite

Show Fersmite Photos (67)



Formula:
(Ca,Y)(Nb,Ta,Ti)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
System:OrthorhombicHardness:4 - 4½
Name:
Named in 1946 by Elsa Maximilianovna Bohnstedt-Kupletskaya and T. A. Burova in honour of academic Aleksandr Evgenievich Fersman (November 8, 1883 St. Petersburg, Russia - May 20, 1945 Sochi, Georgia), mineralogist, founder of the Fersman Mineralogical Museum in Moscow, Russia.


Fersmite (similar to Fergusonite) is one of the most low-titanoan niobates.

Classification of Fersmite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/D.19-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.DG.05

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
G : With large (+- medium-sized) cations; chains of edge-sharing octahedra
Dana 8th edition ID:8.3.3.1

8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
3 : AB2O6
Hey's CIM Ref.:18.2.12

18 : Niobates and Tantalates
2 : Niobates and tantalates containing rare earths but not U
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Type Occurrence of Fersmite

Type Locality:Vein No. 37A, Buldym Lake, Vishnevye (Vishnyovye; Cherry) Mts, Chelyabinsk Oblast', Southern Urals, Urals Region, Russia
Year of Discovery:1946

Physical Properties of Fersmite

Hardness (Mohs):4 - 4½

Crystallography of Fersmite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 15.02Å, b = 5.73Å, c = 5.22Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 2.621 : 1 : 0.911
Unit Cell Volume:V 449.26 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Fersmite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 2.070 nβ = 2.080 nγ = 2.190
2V:Measured: 20° to 25°, Calculated: 36°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.120

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:r < v strong

Chemical Properties of Fersmite

Formula:
(Ca,Y)(Nb,Ta,Ti)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
Essential elements:Ca, Nb, O
All elements listed in formula:Ca, H, Nb, O, Ta, Ti, Y

Relationship of Fersmite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.DG.05Euxenite-(Y)
(Y,Ca,Ce,U,Th)(Nb,Ti,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DG.05Kobeite-(Y)
(Y,Zr)
 
2
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7
4.DG.05Loranskite-(Y)
(Y,Ce,Ca)ZrTaO
 
6
 (?)
4.DG.05Polycrase-(Y)
(Y,U)(Ti,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DG.05Tanteuxenite-(Y)
(Y,Ce,Ca)(Ta,Nb,Ti)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
4.DG.05Uranopolycrase
(U
4+
 
,Y)(Ti,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DG.05Yttrocrasite-(Y)
(Y,U,Ca,Th)(Ti,Fe)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
4.DG.10β-Fergusonite-(Y)
YNbO
 
4
4.DG.10β-Fergusonite-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce)NbO
 
4
4.DG.10β-Fergusonite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Nd)NbO
 
4
4.DG.10Yttrotantalite-(Y)
(Y,Ca,U
4+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
8
4.DG.10Beta-Fergusonite-(Nd)
4.DG.15Foordite
(Sn,Pb)(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DG.15Thoreaulite
SnTa
 
2
O
 
6
4.DG.20Raspite
Pb(WO
 
4
)
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
18.2.1Fergusonite-(Y)
YNbO
 
4
18.2.2β-Fergusonite-(Y)
YNbO
 
4
18.2.3Fergusonite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Nd)NbO
 
4
18.2.4β-Fergusonite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Nd)NbO
 
4
18.2.5Fergusonite-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce)(Nb,Ti)O
 
4
18.2.6β-Fergusonite-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce)NbO
 
4
18.2.7Formanite-(Y)
YTaO
 
4
18.2.8Pyrochlore Group
A
 
2
Nb
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
Z
18.2.9Ceriopyrochlore (of Hogarth 1977)
18.2.10Strontiopyrochlore (of Hogarth 1977)
18.2.11Loparite-(Ce)
(Na,Ce,Ca,Sr,Th)(Ti,Nb,Fe)O
 
3
18.2.13Aeschynite-(Ce)
(Ce,Ca,Fe,Th)(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
18.2.14Aeschynite-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce,Ca)(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
18.2.15Aeschynite-(Y)
(Y,Ca,Fe,Th)(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
18.2.16Nioboaeschynite-(Ce)
(Ce,Ca,Th)(Nb,Ti)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
18.2.17Nioboaeschynite-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce,Ca,Th)(Nb,Ti,Fe,Ta)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
18.2.18Tantalaeschynite-(Y)
(Y,Ce,Ca)(Ta,Ti,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
18.2.19Vigezzite
(Ca,Ce)(Nb,Ti)
 
2
O
 
6
18.2.20Murataite-(Y)
(Y,Na)
 
6
Zn(Zn,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
(Ti,Nb,Na)
 
12
O
 
29
(O,F,OH)
 
10
F
 
4

Other Names for Fersmite

Other Languages:
German:Fersmit
Russian:Ферсмит
Spanish:Fersmita

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Fersmite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist: 32: 373.

Internet Links for Fersmite

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    • Localities for Fersmite

    The 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 Locality List
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Austria
     
    • Styria
      • Koralpe
        • Deutschlandsberg
          • St Oswald
    		Postl, W. & Moser, B. (1987)
    Brazil
     
    • Paraíba
      • Borborema mineral province
        • Pedra Lavrada
    		Beurlen, H., Da Silva, M.R.R., Thomas, R., Soares, D.R., and Olivier, P. (2008): Mineralium Deposita 43, 207-228.
    • Rio Grande do Norte
      • Borborema mineral province
        • Parelhas
    		Beurlen, H.; Müller, A.; Silva, D.; Da Silva, M.R.R. (2011): Petrogenetic significance of LA-ICP-MS trace-element data on quartz from the Borborema Pegmatite Province, northeast Brazil. Mineral. Mag. 75, 2703-2719.
    Canada
     
    • British Columbia
      • Golden Mining Division
        • Radium Hot Springs
      • Kamloops Mining Division
        • Blue River
          • Verity claim
    		Blue River Carbonatites, British Columbia- Primary Exploration Targets for Tantalum, G.J. Simandle,P.C. Jones, M. Rotella Exploration and Mining in British Columbia - 2001, B. C. Mines Report, pg 123-131 (http://www.commerceresources.com/i/pdf/05-BCGOVRREPORT.pdf)
    Berger, V.I., Singer, D.A., and Orris, G.J. (2009): USGS Open-File Report 09-1139
      • Omenica Mining Division
        • Williston Lake
    		Berger, V.I., Singer, D.A., and Orris, G.J. (2009): USGS Open-File Report 09-1139
    • Ontario
      • Thunder Bay District
        • Marathon
    		McLaughlin (1990)
    China
     
    • Hubei Province
      • Shiyan Prefecture
        • Zhushan Co.
    		Shi Li (1980): Geochimica 9(4), 345-355
    • Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
      • Baotou League (Baotou Prefecture)
        • Bayan Obo Mining District
          • Bayan Obo
            • Bayan Obo (Bayun-Obo; Baiyunebo) deposit
    		Zhang Peishan, Yang Zhuming, Tao Kejie, and Yang Xueming (1996): Mineralogy and Geology of Rare Earths in China. Science Press (Beijing), pp. 226.
    Zhang Peishan, Yang Zhuming, Tao Kejie, and Yang Xueming (1996): "Mineralogy and Geology of Rare Earths in China", Science Press (Beijing), 226 pp.
    Czech Republic
     
    • Moravia (Mähren; Maehren)
      • Olomouc Region
        • Šumperk (Mährisch Schönberg)
          • Maršíkov (Marchendorf)
    		Novák, M.: Maršíkov - Schinderhübel. In Exkurzní průvodce po mineralogických lokalitách na Sobotínsku. Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci, 2002, Olomouc, s. 34-37.
    Sejkora, J.: Některé zajímavé nálezy nerostů v pegmatitech České republiky. Minerál, 1993, roč. 1, č. 3, s. 22-23.; Novák, M.: Maršíkov - Scheibengraben. In Exkurzní průvodce po mineralogických lokalitách na Sobotínsku. Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci, 2002, Olomouc, s. 38-41.
          • Ruda nad Moravou
    		Novák M. Gadas P. (2010) ZONED, ANORTHITE- AND GROSSULARITE-BEARING, LEUCOTONALITIC PEGMATITE FROM SERPENTINIZED LHERZOLITE AT RUDA NAD MORAVOU, STARÉ MĚSTO UNIT, CZECH REPUBLIC. Can Miner 48 (3): 629-650.
    France
     
    • Midi-Pyrénées
      • Hautes-Pyrénées
        • La Barthe-de-Neste
          • Avezac-Prat-Lahitte
    		MONCHOUX P., FONTAN F., DE PARSEVAL P., MARTIN R. F., WANG R. C. (2006) - Igneous albitite dikes in orogenic lherzolithes, Western Pyrénées, France: A possible source for corundum and alkali feldspar xenocrysts in basaltic terranes. I. Mineralogical Asssociations. The Canadian Mineralogist, Vol. 44, pp. 817-842.
    Germany
     
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Eifel
        • Laach lake volcanic complex
          • Kruft
    		Hentschel, G., Die Minerale in Auswürflingen des Laacher -See –Vulkans, Der Aufschluss, SB 33, 65-105, 1990
          • Mendig
            • Niedermendig
    		Hentschel, G., Die Minerale in Auswürflingen des Laacher -See –Vulkans, Der Aufschluss, SB 33, 65-105, 1990
    Hentschel, G., Die Minerale in Auswürflingen des Laacher -See –Vulkans, Der Aufschluss, SB 33, 65-105, 1990
              • Wingertsberg
    		Hentschel, G., Die Minerale in Auswürflingen des Laacher -See –Vulkans, Der Aufschluss, SB 33, 65-105, 1990
    Greenland
     
    • Kitaa (West Greenland) Province
      • Narsaq
        • Ilimaussaq complex
          • Tasseq area
    		Bohse, H., Petersen, O., Niedermayr, G. (2001): Notes on Leucophanite from the Ilimaussaq alkaline complex, South Greenland, Geology of Greenland Survey Bulletin, 190, 119-121
    Italy
     
    • Piedmont
      • Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province
        • Baveno
          • Feriolo
    		Guastoni, A., Nestola, F., Zorzi, F. & Pezzotta, F. (2010). Aluminocerite-(Ce), settimo minerale nuovo a Baveno e primo ritrovamento di anglesite, emimorfite e torite. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 2/2010, 106-109.
        • Ossola Valley
          • Vigezzo Valley
            • Craveggia
    		Piccoli, G.C., Maletto, G., Bosio, P., Lombardo, B. (2007): Minerali del Piemonte e della Valle d'Aosta. Associazione Amici del Museo "F. Eusebio" Alba, Ed., Alba (Cuneo) 607 pp.
            • Druogno
              • Orcesco
            • Trontano
    		Mattioli V. (1987) - Novità mineralogiche in Val d'Ossola - Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, Milano, fasc. 1, pp.1-11
    Callegari A., Vanini F., 2002. La fersmite della pegmatite di Rio Graia. Riv. Mineral. Ital., 26 (4): 212-215.
    • Sardinia
      • Olbia-Tempio Pausania Province
        • Telti
    		Gamboni, A., Gelosa, M., Gamboni, T. (2001): Ortoclasio ed altri minerali delle pegmatiti di S. Bachisio, Telti, Gallura, Sardegna N.E. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 1/2001, 30-40
    Madagascar
     
    • Antananarivo Province
      • Vakinankaratra Region
        • Betafo District
          • Ambohimanambola Commune
    		Pezzotta, F. (1999): Madagaskar- Da Paradies der Mineralien und Edelsteine. Extra Lapis 17. 56-59
    De Vito et al (2006): Nb-Ti-Ta oxides in the gem-mineralized and "hybrid" Anjanabonoina granitic pegmatite, central Madagascar: A record of magmatic and postmagmatic events. Canadian Mineralogist. 44: 87-103.
    Mongolia
     
    • Hovd Aimag (Khovd Aimag)
      • Altai Mts
    		P.M. Kartashov data
          • Mount Ulyn Khuren
    		Kartashov P.M., Voloshin A.V., PakhomovskiiYa.A. On the zonal crystaline gadolinite from the alkaline granite pegmatites of Haldzan Buragtag (Mongolian Altai), - Zapiski VMO, 1993,N3,p. 65-79.
    Pavel M. Kartashov data
    Norway
     
    • Aust-Agder
      • Evje og Hornnes
        • Landsverk
    		Larsen, A. O. (2001): "Ein Neufund für Norwegen: Fersmite vom Pegmatite "Landsverk 1" bei Evje" Mineralien-Welt, no 3, pp. 48-50.
      • Iveland
        • Frikstad
    		Nordrum, F.S. (2008): Nyfunn av mineraler i Norge 2007-2008. STEIN 35 (2),p.15 ; Breivik, H., Larsen, A.O. & Myre, K. (2008): Litjern cleavelandittbrudd, Iveland. Norsk Bergverksmuseum Skrift 38: 45-47
    • Svalbard
      • Spitsbergen
        • Hornsund fjord
    		 Pršek, J., Majka, J., Uher, P. & Chudík, P. (2010): Niobium-tantalum minerals in the Skoddefjellet NYF granitic pegmatite, Svalbard Archipelago, Norway: Primary versus secondary assemblage. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie - Abhandlungen 187, 235-248
    • Telemark
      • Nome
        • Fen complex
    		A.H. Van der Veen (1963); Neumann (1985, p. 79).
    Poland
     
    • Lower Silesia (Dolnośląskie)
      • Dzierżoniów District
        • Piława Górna
    		PIECZKA et al. 2010: Nb-Ta minerals in pegmatites in the DSS mine at Piława Górna, Góry Sowie Block, southwestern Poland. Mineralogia - Special Papers, 37.
      • Ząbkowice District
        • Ząbkowice (Frankenstein)
          • Szklary (Gläsendorf)
    		Pieczka A. 2006: An unusual manganoan apatite from the Szklary pegmatite (Lower Silesia, Poland). Mineralogia Polonica - Special Papers, vol. 28, 178-180
    Romania
     
    • Harghita Co.
    		Pál-Molnár (2000)
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Prebaikalia (Pribaikal'e)
        • Irkutskaya Oblast'
          • Vitim Plateau
            • Biraya and Bya Rivers confluence area (Chara Basin)
              • Biraya Fe-REE ore occurrence
    		C. Lemanski, Jr. (re-entry of lost Mindat data).
    • Northern Region
      • Murmanskaja Oblast'
        • Kola Peninsula
          • Afrikanda
    • Urals Region
      • Southern Urals
        • Chelyabinsk Oblast'
    Nedosekova, I.L. (2007): Geology of Ore Deposits 49(2), 129-146.
    Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    Slovakia
     
    • Banská Bystrica Region
      • Banská Bystrica Co.
        • Brusno
    		Uher, P. ,Černý, P., 1998 : Vzácnoprvková mineralizácia v granitových pegmatitoch Nízkych Tatier. Mineralia Slovaca, 30, 2,93 – 94
    • Trnava Region
      • Piešťany Co.
    		Uher, P., Broska, I., 1989: Muskovitický pegmatit s obsahom minerálov vzácnych prvkov při Moravanoch n.V. (Považský Inovec). Min.Slovaca, 21,2,163 – 174
    South Africa
     
    • Limpopo Province
      • Thabazimbi
        • Glenover carbonatite
    		Minerals of South Africa
    South Korea
     
    • Chungcheongbukdo (Chungchong-pukto)
      • Chungju (Chung Won Kum; Chung-ju)
        • Joongwon-gun
          • Mt. Eorae
    		P.M. Kartashov data
    Sri Lanka
     
    • Sabaragamuwa Province
      • Ratnapura District
    		Pavel M. Kartashov analytical data (2011)
    Sweden
     
    • Medelpad
      • Sundsvall
    		Sandström, F., Binett, T., Wiklund, C. & Vikström, J. (2010): Alnöområdets geologi och mineralogi. Litiofilen. 27 (2) :14-42
    Sandström, F., Binett, T., Wiklund, C. & Vikström, J. (2010): Alnöområdets geologi och mineralogi. Litiofilen. 27 (2) :14-42
    Sandström, F., Binett, T., Wiklund, C. & Vikström, J. (2010): Alnöområdets geologi och mineralogi. Litiofilen. 27 (2) :14-42
    USA
     
    • Arkansas
    		Howard, 1987. Mineral Species of Arkansas, addenda
        • Little Rock
    		Rocks and Minerals, (1989) 64:314-322
    Min News (2000) 16:6 pp 1-5,9
    • California
      • San Diego Co.
        • Mesa Grande District
          • Gem Hill
    		Rocks and Mineral: 1998: 168 & 178, Figure 30.
    Foord, Eugene E. and Mrose, Mary E. (1978), Rynersonite, a new mineral from San Diego County, California. American Mineralogist, Volume 63, pages 709-714.
    • Colorado
      • Fremont Co.
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckel, E. B.
    "Minerals of Colorado, updated & revised", p. 16, by Eckel, Edwin B., 1997; USGS Prof Paper 649
      • Larimer Co.
        • Crystal Mountain Pegmatite District (Storm Mountain District)
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
    • Montana
      • Ravalli Co.
        • Mineral Point District
          • Alta
    		Am Min (1959) 44:1-8
    American Mineralogist (1961) 46::1424-1447
    • New Hampshire
      • Carroll Co.
        • Albany
    		Nashua Min. Soc. Display Cat., 1995
    • North Carolina
      • Cleveland Co.
        • Kings Mountain District
    		Rocks and Minerals, November-December, 1975.; Rocks and Minerals, (1985) 60:76-82; Carolina Geological Society Field Trip Guidebook 1981, 39-48
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2011. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them. Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
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