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Xenotime-(Y)

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Novo Horizonte, Bahia, Northeast Region, Brazil
© D. Richerson

Show Xenotime-(Y) Photos (129)
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


Xenotime Group. Chernovite-(Y)-Xenotime-(Y) Series.

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)

About Crystal Atlas

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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)
Related to:
  • 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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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Xenotime-(Y) in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Xenotime-(Y) details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Xenotime-(Y)

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