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Xenotime-(Y)

Formula:
YPO
 
4
System:TetragonalColour:Yellowish brown, ...
Lustre:Vitreous, ResinousHardness:4 - 5
Name:From the Greek κευός = "vain" and τιμή = "honor," in allusion to the fact that the yttrium in it was mistaken for a new element.
Isostructural with:Zircon

Classification of Xenotime-(Y)

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/A.14-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.AD.35

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
Dana 7th edition ID:38.4.9.1
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.9.1

19 : Phosphates
9 : Phosphates of rare earths and Sc
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Type Occurrence of Xenotime-(Y)

Type Locality:Hidra (Hitterø), Flekkefjord, Vest-Agder, Norway
Year of Discovery:1832

Occurrences of Xenotime-(Y)

Geological Setting:Minor accessory mineral in acidic and alkalic igneous rocks and pegmatites; in mica and quartz rich gneisses. Also as a detrital mineral.

Physical Properties of Xenotime-(Y)

Lustre:Vitreous, Resinous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent, Opaque
Colour:Yellowish brown, reddish, brown, light red, light green, gray; colourless to very light yellowish green, yellow or yellowish brown in transmitted light.
Streak:Pale brown, yellowish or reddish, white
Hardness (Mohs):4 - 5
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Imperfect/Fair
On {100}, complete.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Splintery
Density (measured):4.4 - 5.1 g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.277 g/cm3

Crystallography of Xenotime-(Y)

Crystal System:Tetragonal
Class (H-M):4/m - Dipyramidal
Space Group:I41/a
Cell Parameters:a = 6.888(4) Å, c = 6.029(8) Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.875
Unit Cell Volume:V 286.04 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Crystals short to long prismatic [001]; also equant, pyramidal; as crude radial aggregates comprised of coarse crystals; in rosettes.
Twinning:On {111}, rare.
Crystal Atlas:
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Xenotime no.2 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Xenotime no.8 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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Epitaxial Relationships of Xenotime-(Y)

Epitaxial Minerals:
Zircon
Epitaxi Comments:Parallel growth with zircon common.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Xenotime-(Y)

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 1.720 nε = 1.816 - 1.827
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.096

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Pleochroism:Weak
Comments:Dichroic:

O = Pink, yellow, or yellowish brown
E = Brownish yellow, grayish brown, or greenish

Chemical Properties of Xenotime-(Y)

Formula:
YPO
 
4
Essential elements:O, P, Y
All elements listed in formula:O, P, Y

Relationship of Xenotime-(Y) to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Chernovite-(Y) (see here)
Member of Group:
Xenotime Group:
Common Associates:
ZirconSillimaniteSillimaniteRutileMonazite
MagnetiteK FeldsparIlmeniteHematiteAnatase
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.AD.05Nahpoite
Na
 
2
HPO
 
4
8.AD.10Monetite
CaHPO
 
4
8.AD.10Weilite
CaHAsO
 
4
8.AD.10Švenekite
Ca(H
 
2
AsO
 
4
)
 
2
8.AD.15Archerite
(K,NH
 
4
)[H
 
2
PO
 
4
]
8.AD.15Biphosphammite
(NH
 
4
,K)H
 
2
PO
 
4
8.AD.20Phosphammite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
HPO
 
4
8.AD.25Buchwaldite
NaCaPO
 
4
8.AD.30Schultenite
PbHAsO
 
4
8.AD.35Chernovite-(Y)
YAsO
 
4
8.AD.35Dreyerite
BiVO
 
4
8.AD.35Wakefieldite-(Ce)
(Ce,Pb)VO
 
4
8.AD.35Wakefieldite-(Y)
YVO
 
4
8.AD.35Pretulite
ScPO
 
4
8.AD.35Xenotime-(Yb)
(Yb,Y,HREE)PO
 
4
8.AD.35Wakefieldite-(La)
LaVO
 
4
8.AD.40Pucherite
BiVO
 
4
8.AD.45Ximengite
BiPO
 
4
8.AD.50Gasparite-(Ce)
(Ce,REE)AsO
 
4
8.AD.50Monazite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Nd,Th)PO
 
4
8.AD.50Monazite-(La)
(La,Ce,Nd)PO
 
4
8.AD.50Monazite-(Nd)
(Nd,La,Ce)PO
 
4
8.AD.50Rooseveltite
BiAsO
 
4
8.AD.50Cheralite
(Ca,Ce)(Th,Ce)[PO
 
4
]
 
2
8.AD.50Monazite-(Sm)
(Sm,Gd,Ce,Th)(PO
 
4
)
8.AD.50UM2005-35-VO:CaFePSiTh
(Th,Ca)[VO
 
4
,SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
]
8.AD.55Tetrarooseveltite
Bi(AsO
 
4
)
8.AD.60Chursinite
(Hg-Hg)
 
0.5
Hg
2+
 
[AsO
 
4
]
8.AD.65Clinobisvanite
BiVO
 
4
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
19.9.2Churchite-(Y)
YPO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
19.9.3Monazite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Nd,Th)PO
 
4
19.9.4Monazite-(La)
(La,Ce,Nd)PO
 
4
19.9.5Monazite-(Nd)
(Nd,La,Ce)PO
 
4
19.9.6Rhabdophane-(Ce)
(Ce,La)PO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
19.9.7Rhabdophane-(La)
(La,Ce)PO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
19.9.8Rhabdophane-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce,La)PO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
19.9.9Vitusite-(Ce)
Na
 
3
(Ce,La,Nd)(PO
 
4
)
 
2
19.9.10Florencite-(Ce)
CeAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
19.9.11Florencite-(La)
LaAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
19.9.12Florencite-(Nd)
NdAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
19.9.13Kolbeckite
ScPO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O

Other Names for Xenotime-(Y)

Synonyms:
CastelnauditeChrysanthemum Stone (of Kimura)HussakitePhosphate of YttriaPhosphyttrie
TankeliteTankite (of Haidinger)XenotimeXenotimite
Other Languages:
German:Castelnaudit
Hussakit
Phosphorsaure Yttererde
Tankelit
Xenotimit
Xenotim-(Y)
Ytterspath
Japanese:ゼノタイム
Russian:Ксенотим-(Y)
Spanish:Castelnaudita
Hussakita
Tankelita
Xenotimita
Swedish:Phosphorsyrad Ytterjord

Other Information

Magnetism:Paramagnetic
Other Information:Very slightly attacked or impervious to acids, depending on the composition.
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Industrial Uses:An ore of yttrium.

References for Xenotime-(Y)

Reference List:Berzelius (1824) Ak. Stockholm, Handl.: 2: 334 (as Phosphorsyrad Ytterjord).

Glocker, E.F. (1831) Handbuch der Mineralogie, Nürnberg: 959 (as Ytterspath).

Beudant, F.S. (1832), Trailé élémentaire de Minéralogie, second edition, 2 volumes: 2: 552 (as Xenotime).

Damour (1853) L'Institut: 78 (as Castelnaudite).

Dana, E.S. (1892) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York: 748.

Eakins analysis in: Hidden (1893) American Journal of Science: 46: 255.

Penfield (1893) American Journal of Science: 45: 398.

Kraus and Reitinger (1901) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 34: 268 (as Hussakite).

Brögger (1904) Nytt Mag.: 42: 1.

Brögger (1906) Vidensk.-Selsk. Skr., Oslo, Math.-Nat. Kl.: 1: no. 6: 6.

Hussak (1907) Centralblatt für Mineralogie: 533.

Tschernik (1907) Verh. Min. Ges. St. Petersburg: 45: 425.

Tschernik (1910) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 47: 291.

Vegard (1917) Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science: 33: 395.

Hintze, Carl (1922) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: vol. 1 [4A]: 240.

Goldschmidt, V. (1923) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text, Heidelberg: vol. 9: 102.

Vegard (1927) Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science: 4: 511.

Clouse (1930) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 76: 285.

Clouse (1932) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 83: 161.

Strunz (1936) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 94: 60.

Hutton (1947) American Mineralogist: 32: 141.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.: 688-691.

Mineralogical Magazine (1973): 39: 145.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 121: 315-316.

Internet Links for Xenotime-(Y)

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    Localities for Xenotime-(Y)

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