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Tritomite-(Y)

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Big Photo

BEMCO prospect (Charlotte Mine), Cranberry Lake, Byram Township, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA
© 2008, JGW

Show Tritomite-(Y) Photos (6)



Formula:
(Y,Ca,La,Fe)
 
5
(Si,B,Al)
 
3
(O,OH,F)
 
13
Colour:Dark green-black, ...Hardness:3½ - 6½
Member of:Britholite Group > Apatite Supergroup
Name:From Greek "tria", three, plus "tome", cut, alluding to the trihedral cavities that its acute rhomohedra left imprinted on its accompanying gangue minerals.

The mineral was described as a new species by Frondel (1961) and named spencite after Hugh S. Spence, a Canadian mineralogist who first found the mineral in 1934. The name was changed to tritomite-(Y) and spencite became a synonym, owing to the implementation of the new nomenclature for rare-earth minerals (Levinson 1966, Nickel & Mandarino 1987). Spencite was the Y-analogue of the tritomite-(Ce), and the tritomite name had priority (Horváth 2003).


Britholite Group

Classification of Tritomite-(Y)

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/B.33-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.AH.25

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
H : Nesosilicates with CO3, SO4, PO4, etc.
Dana 8th edition ID:54.2.5.2

54 : NESOSILICATES Borosilicates and Some Beryllosilicates
2 : Borosilicates and Some Beryllosilicates with B in [4] coordination
Hey's CIM Ref.:17.5.23

17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
5 : Borosilicates
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Type Occurrence of Tritomite-(Y)

Type Locality:Unnamed prospect pit, Cardiff Township, Haliburton Co., Ontario, Canada

Physical Properties of Tritomite-(Y)

Lustre:Vitreous, Resinous
Colour:Dark green-black, red-brown, nearly black
Hardness (Mohs):3½ - 6½

Chemical Properties of Tritomite-(Y)

Formula:
(Y,Ca,La,Fe)
 
5
(Si,B,Al)
 
3
(O,OH,F)
 
13
Essential elements:O, Si, Y
All elements listed in formula:Al, B, Ca, F, Fe, H, La, O, Si, Y

Relationship of Tritomite-(Y) to other Species

Member of:Britholite Group > Apatite Supergroup
Other Members of Group:

- +
Britholite-(Ce)
Ca
 
2
(Ce,Ca)
 
3
(SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH,F)
Britholite-(La)
Britholite-(Y)
Ca
 
2
(Y,Ca)
 
3
(SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH,F)
Fluorbritholite-(Ce)
Ca
 
2
(Ce,Ca)
 
3
(SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
(F,OH)
Fluorbritholite-(Y)
Ca
 
2
(Y,Ca,Ln)
 
3
(SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
(F,OH)
Fluorcalciobritholite
(Ca,Ce)
 
5
 (SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
Tritomite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Y,Th)
 
5
(Si,B)
 
3
(O,OH,F)
 
13
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.AH.05Iimoriite-(Y)
Y
 
2
[SiO
 
4
][CO
 
3
]
9.AH.10Tundrite-(Ce)
Na
 
2
Ce
 
2
Ti(SiO
 
4
)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
O
 
2
9.AH.10Tundrite-(Nd)
Na
 
3
(Nd,La)
 
4
(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
O
 
4
(OH) · 2H
 
2
O
9.AH.15Spurrite
Ca
 
5
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
9.AH.20Ternesite
Ca
 
5
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
9.AH.25Britholite-(Ce)
Ca
 
2
(Ce,Ca)
 
3
(SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH,F)
9.AH.25Britholite-(Y)
Ca
 
2
(Y,Ca)
 
3
(SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH,F)
9.AH.25Ellestadite-(Cl)
Ca
 
10
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
Cl
 
2
9.AH.25Fluorbritholite-(Ce)
Ca
 
2
(Ce,Ca)
 
3
(SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
(F,OH)
9.AH.25Fluorellestadite
Ca
 
5
(SiO
 
4
)
 
1.5
(SO
 
4
)
 
1.5
F
9.AH.25Hydroxylellestadite
Ca
 
5
(SiO
 
4
)
 
1.5
(SO
 
4
)
 
1.5
(OH)
9.AH.25Mattheddleite
Pb
 
5
(SiO
 
4
)
 
1.5
(SO
 
4
)
 
1.5
(Cl,OH)
9.AH.25Tritomite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Y,Th)
 
5
(Si,B)
 
3
(O,OH,F)
 
13
9.AH.25Fluorcalciobritholite
(Ca,Ce)
 
5
 (SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
9.AH.25Fluorbritholite-(Y)
Ca
 
2
(Y,Ca,Ln)
 
3
(SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
(F,OH)
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
17.5.1Manandonite
LiAl
 
4
(BSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
6
17.5.2Reedmergnerite
Na[BSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
17.5.3Searlesite
Na(H
 
2
BSi
 
2
O
 
7
)
17.5.4Olenite
Na(Al
 
3
)Al
 
6
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)(BO
 
3
)
 
3
O
 
3
(OH)
17.5.5Elbaite
Na(Li
 
1.5
Al
 
1.5
)Al
 
6
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)(BO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
(OH)
17.5.6Kalborsite
K
 
6
Al
 
4
BSi
 
6
O
 
20
(OH)
 
4
Cl
17.5.7Boromuscovite
KAl
 
2
(BSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
17.5.8Poudretteite
KNa
 
2
B
 
3
Si
 
12
O
 
30
17.5.9Liddicoatite
Ca(Li
 
2
Al)Al
 
6
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)(BO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
(OH)
17.5.10Datolite
Ca(HBSiO
 
5
)
17.5.11Danburite
CaB
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
17.5.12Howlite
Ca
 
2
B
 
5
SiO
 
9
(OH)
 
5
17.5.13Bakerite
Ca
 
4
(H
 
5
B
 
5
Si
 
3
O
 
20
)
17.5.14Oyelite
Ca
 
10
Si
 
8
B
 
2
O
 
29
 · 12.5H
 
2
O
17.5.15Kornerupine
Mg
 
3
Al
 
6
(Si,Al,B)
 
5
O
 
21
(OH)
17.5.16Harkerite
Ca
 
12
Mg
 
4
Al(BO
 
3
)
 
3
(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
5
 · H
 
2
O
17.5.17Serendibite
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
[O
 
2
|(Si,Al,B)
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.18Stillwellite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Ca)BSiO
 
5
17.5.19Tadzhikite-(Ce)
(Ca,Ce)
 
4
(Ce,Y)
 
2
(Ti
4+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Al)[B
 
4
Si
 
4
O
 
22
](OH)
 
2
17.5.20Melanocerite-(Ce)
(Ce,Ca)
 
5
(Si,B)
 
3
O
 
12
(OH,F) · nH
 
2
O
17.5.21Okanoganite-(Y)
(Na,Ca)
 
3
(Y,Ce)
 
12
Si
 
6
B
 
2
O
 
27
F
 
14
17.5.22Tritomite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Y,Th)
 
5
(Si,B)
 
3
(O,OH,F)
 
13
17.5.24Cappelenite-(Y)
Ba(Y,Ce)
 
6
Si
 
3
B
 
6
O
 
24
F
 
2
17.5.25Dumortierite
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
7
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
(BO
 
3
)O
 
3
17.5.26Holtite
Al
 
6
(Al,Ta)(SiO
 
4
,SbO
 
4
,AsO
 
4
)
 
3
(BO
 
3
)O
 
3
17.5.27Dravite
Na(Mg
 
3
)Al
 
6
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)(BO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
(OH)
17.5.28 Ferridravite
17.5.29Axinite-(Mg)
Ca
 
2
MgAl
 
2
BSi
 
4
O
 
15
OH
17.5.30Uvite
Ca(Mg
 
3
)MgAl
 
5
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)(BO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
(F/OH)
17.5.31Garrelsite
Ba
 
3
NaSi
 
2
B
 
7
O
 
16
(OH)
 
4
17.5.32Tienshanite
KNa
 
3
Na
 
6
Ca
 
2
Ba
 
6
Mn
 
6
(Ti
4+
 
,Nb)
 
6
B
 
12
Si
 
36
O
 
114
(O,OH,F)
 
11
17.5.33Leucosphenite
BaNa
 
4
Ti
 
2
B
 
2
Si
 
10
O
 
30
17.5.34Taramellite
Ba
 
4
(Fe
3+
 
,Ti,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
4
(B
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
27
)O
 
2
Cl
 
x
17.5.35Titantaramellite
Ba
 
4
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
4
(B
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
27
)O
 
2
Cl
 
x
17.5.36Nagashimalite
Ba
 
4
(V,Ti)
 
4
B
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
27
(O,OH)
 
2
Cl
17.5.37Chromium-dravite
Na(Mg
 
3
)Cr
3+
6
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)(BO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
(OH)
17.5.38Wawayandaite
Ca
 
6
Mn
 
2
BBe
 
9
Si
 
6
O
 
23
(OH,Cl)
 
15
17.5.39Werdingite
(Mg,Fe)
 
2
Al
 
14
Si
 
4
B
 
4
O
 
37
17.5.40Axinite-(Mn)
Ca
 
2
Mn
2+
 
Al
 
2
BSi
 
4
O
 
15
(OH)
17.5.41Axinite
17.5.42Tinzenite
(CaMn
2+
 
)
 
2
Mn
2+
 
Al
 
2
BSi
 
4
O
 
15
(OH)
17.5.44Schorl
Na(Fe
2+
3
)Al
 
6
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)(BO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
(OH)
17.5.45Fluor-buergerite
Na(Fe
3+
3
)Al
 
6
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)(BO
 
3
)
 
3
O
 
3
F
17.5.46Feruvite
Ca(Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
MgAl
 
5
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)(BO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
(OH)
17.5.47Axinite-(Fe)
Ca
 
2
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
BSi
 
4
O
 
15
OH
17.5.48Homilite
Ca
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)B
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
17.5.49Grandidierite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
(SiO
 
4
)(BO
 
3
)O
 
2
17.5.50Hyalotekite
(Ba,Pb,Ca,K)
 
6
(B,Si,Al)
 
2
(Si,Be)
 
10
O
 
28
(F,Cl)
17.5.51Hellandite-(Y)
(Ca,Y)
 
6
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)Si
 
4
B
 
4
O
 
20
(OH)
 
4

Other Names for Tritomite-(Y)

Synonyms:
Spencite
Other Languages:
German:Spencit
Tritomit
Tritomit-(Y)
Spanish:Spencita
Tritomita
Varieties:
Alumospencite

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 Tritomite-(Y)

Reference List:

- +
FRONDEL, C. (1961): Two yttrium minerals: spencite and rowlandite. Canadian Mineralogist 6, 576-581. Abstracted in: American Mineralogist (1961): 46: 1204.
JAFFE, H.W. & MOLINSKY, V.J. (1962): Spencite, the yttrium analogue of tritomite from Sussex Co., New Jersey. American Mineralogist 47, 9-25.
JOENSUU, O.I. & INGAMELLS, C.O. (1966): Additional data on the composition of spencite. Canadian Mineralogist 8, 647-649.
LEVINSON, A.A. (1966): A system of nomenclature for rare-earth minerals. American Mineralogist 51, 152-158.
NICKEL, E.H. & MANDARINO, J.A. (1987): Procedures involving the IMA Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names, and guidelines on mineral nomenclature. Canadian Mineralogist 25, 353-377.

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    • Localities for Tritomite-(Y)

    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.
    Brazil
     
    • Pará
      • Carajás mineral province
        • Canaã dos Carajás
    		Grainger, C.J., Groves, D.I., Tallarico, F.H.B., and Fletcher, I.R. (2008): Ore Geology Reviews 33, 451-489.
    Canada
     
    • Ontario
      • Haliburton Co.
        • Cardiff Township
    		D. D. Hogarth, H. R. Steacy, E. I. Semenov, E. G. Proshchenko, M. E. Kazakova and Z. T. Kataeva (1973) New occurrence and data for spencite. The Canadian Mineralogist 12:66-71
    FRONDEL, C. (1961): Two yttrium minerals: spencite and rowlandite. Canadian Mineralogist 6, 576-581. JAFFE, H.W. & MOLINSKY, V.J. (1962): Spencite, the yttrium analogue of tritomite from Sussex Co., New Jersey. American Mineralogist 47, 9-25. JOENSUU, O.I. & INGAMELLS, C.O. (1966): Additional data on the composition of spencite. Canadian Mineralogist 8, 647-649.
      • Hastings Co.
        • Faraday Township
    		Rocks & Min.:59:206 & 210.; D. D. Hogarth, H. R. Steacy, E. I. Semenov, E. G. Proshchenko, M. E. Kazakova and Z. T. Kataeva (1973) New occurrence and data for spencite. The Canadian Mineralogist 12:66-71
    Slovakia
     
    • Banská Bystrica Region
      • Lučenec Co.
    		Huraiová M., Konečný P., 2006: U-Pb-Th datovanie a chemické zloženie monazitu v xenolitoch syenitu a pincinitu z vrchno miocénneho maaru pri obci Pinciná (Lučenecká kotlina). Min.Slovaca, Bratislava, 38, 141-150.
    USA
     
    • New Jersey
      • Sussex Co.
        • Byram Township
          • Cranberry Lake
    		A Quest for New Jersey Minerals, Robert Speiser(1978).
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