Fergusonite-(Y)
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Fergusonite-(Y)
Robert Ferguson
Formula:
YNbO4
Colour:
Grey, yellow, brown
Lustre:
Vitreous, Sub-Metallic, Dull
Hardness:
5½ - 6½
Specific Gravity:
5.6 - 5.8
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
Named fergusonite after Robert Ferguson (8 September 1769 â 3 December 1840, London, England), Scottish landowner, politician and mineral collector. The suffix was added in 1987 to conform to the Levinson rule for minerals with essential REE, in this case yttrium.
Type Locality:
Dimorph of:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1480
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1480:5
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
9d8934a9-00a2-46ab-a093-5e8458aec34a
IMA Classification of Fergusonite-(Y)
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1825
Classification of Fergusonite-(Y)
7.GA.05
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
G : Molybdates, Wolframates and Niobates
A : Without additional anions or H2O
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
G : Molybdates, Wolframates and Niobates
A : Without additional anions or H2O
8.1.1.1
8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
1 : ABO4
8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
1 : ABO4
18.2.1
18 : Niobates and Tantalates
2 : Niobates and tantalates containing rare earths but not U
18 : Niobates and Tantalates
2 : Niobates and tantalates containing rare earths but not U
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMAâCNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMAâCNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMAâCNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Fgs-Y | IMAâCNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMAâCNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Fgs | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Fergusonite-(Y)
Vitreous, Sub-Metallic, Dull
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Grey, yellow, brown
Comment:
Brownish black when altered, brown in transmitted light.
Streak:
Brown, yellow brown, greenish gray
Hardness:
5½ - 6½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Poor/Indistinct
Poor on {111}
Poor on {111}
Fracture:
Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
5.6 - 5.8 g/cm3 (Measured) 5.65 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Fergusonite-(Y)
Type:
Isotropic
RI values:
n = 2.05 - 2.19
Birefringence:
Isotropic minerals have no birefringence
Surface Relief:
Very High
Comments:
Rarely uniaxial
Chemistry of Fergusonite-(Y)
Mindat Formula:
YNbO4
Elements listed:
Chemical Analysis
Oxide wt%:
| 1 | |
|---|---|
| CaO | 1,58 % |
| UO2 | 5,09 % |
| ThO2 | 0,31 % |
| Y2O3 | 28,46 % |
| Nd2O3 | 0,51 % |
| Sm2O3 | 1,39 % |
| Gd2O3 | 1,76 % |
| Dy2O3 | 3,09 % |
| Er2O3 | 1,04 % |
| Yb2O3 | 3,79 % |
| Lu2O3 | 1,01 % |
| Nb2O5 | 45,20 % |
| Ta2O5 | 4,44 % |
| Total: | 93 % |
Sample references:
| ID | Locality | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atagoyama, Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan |
Crystallography of Fergusonite-(Y)
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4/m - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
I41/a
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.15 Å, c = 10.089 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.959
Unit Cell V:
267.59 Ă
Âł (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Prismatic to acicular dipyramidal crystals to 20cm.
Comment:
Commonly metamict
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0005036 | Fergusonite-(Y) | Guastoni A, Camara F, Nestola F (2010) Arsenic-rich fergusonite-beta-(Y) from Mount Cervandone (Western Alps, Italy): Crystal structure and genetic implications American Mineralogist 95 487-494 |  | 2010 | Mount Cervandone, Western Alps, Italy | 0 | 293 |
| 0015538 | Fergusonite-(Y) | Komkov A I (1959) The structure of natural fergusonite, and a polymorphic modification Soviet Physics Crystallography 4 796-800 | 1959 | Ural Mountains, Russia | 0 | 293 | |
| 0015539 | Fergusonite-(Y) | Komkov A I (1959) The structure of natural fergusonite, and of a polymorphic modification Soviet Physics Crystallography 4 796-800 | 1959 | Ural Mountains, Russia | 0 | 1273 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.12 Ă | (100) |
| 2.96 Ă | (90) |
| 1.901 Ă | (50) |
| 2.74 Ă | (40) |
| 1.855 Ă | (30) |
| 3.01 Ă | (20) |
| 2.64 Ă | (20) |
Comments:
Madawaska, Ontario, Canada. Data from Berman (1955). Collected after heating sample at 1200°C.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 26 : Hadean detrital minerals | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 34 : Complex granite pegmatites |
Geological Setting:
Rare earth bearing pegmatites, placer deposits.
Type Occurrence of Fergusonite-(Y)
General Appearance of Type Material:
Crystals, embedded in quartz.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
No designated type material.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Fergusonite-(Y)
Fergusonite (in part)
Other Language Names for Fergusonite-(Y)
Japanese:ăă§ă«ă°ăœăłçł
Russian:ЀДŃĐłŃŃĐŸĐœĐžŃ-(Y)
Simplified Chinese:è€ééçż
Spanish:α-Fergusonita
Varieties of Fergusonite-(Y)
| Risörite | A titaniferous (up to 5 mass% TiO2) variety of Fergusonite-(Y). |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 26 photos of Fergusonite-(Y) associated with Zircon | Zr(SiO4) |
| 21 photos of Fergusonite-(Y) associated with Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| 12 photos of Fergusonite-(Y) associated with Cyrtolite | Zr[(SiO4),(OH)4] |
| 10 photos of Fergusonite-(Y) associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 9 photos of Fergusonite-(Y) associated with Fluorite | CaF2 |
| 8 photos of Fergusonite-(Y) associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 6 photos of Fergusonite-(Y) associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| 3 photos of Fergusonite-(Y) associated with Chevkinite-(Ce) | Ce4(Ti,Fe2+,Fe3+)5O8(Si2O7)2 |
| 3 photos of Fergusonite-(Y) associated with Aluminocerite-(CeCa) | (Ce6Ca3)â»Al(SiO4)3[SiO3(OH)]4(OH)3 |
| 3 photos of Fergusonite-(Y) associated with Pyrochlore Group | A2Nb2(O,OH)6Z |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.GA.05 | Fergusonite-(Ce) | CeNbO4 · 0.3H2O |
| 7.GA.05 | Fergusonite-(Nd) | NdNbO4 |
| 7.GA.05 | Powellite | Ca(MoO4) |
| 7.GA.05 | Scheelite | Ca(WO4) |
| 7.GA.05 | Stolzite | Pb(WO4) |
| 7.GA.05 | Wulfenite | Pb(MoO4) |
| 7.GA.05 | Suseinargiuite | NaBi(MoO4)2 |
| 7.GA.05 | Ronpetersonite | BaWO4 |
| 7.GA.10 | Formanite-(Y) | YTaO4 |
| 7.GA.10 | Iwashiroite-(Y) | Y(Ta,Nb)O4 |
| 7.GA.15 | Paraniite-(Y) | Ca2Y(AsO4)(WO4)2 |
| 7.GA.20 | Takanawaite-(Y) | YTaO4 |
Other Information
Thermal Behaviour:
Before the blowpipe, infusible, but it loses its colour and becomes pale greenish-yellow.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Fergusonite-(Y)
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1480.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Fergusonite-(Y)
Localities for Fergusonite-(Y)
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
â - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Argentina | |
| Bardelli et al. (2018) |
Australia | |
| P.-A. Wulser unpublished data |
| Calderwood +2 other references |
| Calderwood +3 other references | |
Austria | |
| Kolitsch et al. (2018) |
| Exel (1993) |
| Folie et al. (1999) |
| M. Moro collection | |
Brazil | |
| Ricardo Augusto Cipriano Scholz. UFOP (Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil) +1 other reference |
| de Barros Gomes et al. (2017) |
Canada | |
| SHEARD et al. (2012) |
| D. Robert Pinckston (1995) +3 other references |
| Canadian Mineralogist 41:117-137 | |
| |
| T. S. Ercit (1994) |
| Dana's New Mineralogy +1 other reference |
| Mitchell et al. (1993) |
| Petrella (2013) |
| Miles et al. (1971) |
| Hilderley et al. (2006) | |
China | |
| Zhenhai Wang (2000) |
| Zhiwei Bao and Zhenhua Zhao (2008) |
| Zhijun Shen et al. (2003) +2 other references |
| Zhijun Shen et al. (2003) +1 other reference |
| Zhijun Shen et al. (2003) | |
| Qingchang Meng (1981) |
| Jili Shen (1988) |
| Rucheng Wang et al. (2003) |
| Yunhuai Lin and Shiyang Chen (1985) |
| Weizheng Hu et al. (2005) |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
| Zhang Peishan et al. (1996) |
| Fenlian Wang et al. (2012) +1 other reference |
| Xue et al. (2021) | |
| Fenlian Wang et al. (2012) |
| Yin et al. (2015) |
Czech Republic | |
| Ć koda et al. (2011) |
| Ć koda +2 other references |
Egypt | |
| Sami et al. (2017) +1 other reference |
Finland | |
| Al-Ani et al. (2018) |
| Thair Al-Ani! and Olli SarapÀÀ (2013) |
| Tuisku |
| Al Ani Thair and Torppa Akseli 2011. ... |
| Vorma et al. (1966) |
France | |
| MONCHOUX P. et al. (2006) |
| MONCHOUX P. et al. (2006) | |
Germany | |
| Blass +1 other reference |
| Blass +1 other reference | |
| Blass +1 other reference |
| Blass +1 other reference |
| Blass et al. (2004) |
| Witzke et al. (2013) |
Greenland | |
| Anouk Borst photo 782272 |
| Haidinger W (1825) +1 other reference |
Italy | |
| Piccoli et al. (2007) |
| Balestra et al. (2011) |
| Finello et al. (2007) |
| Preite et al. (1997) |
| Piccoli et al. (2007) |
| Piccoli et al. (2007) |
| Cuchet et al. (2016) +2 other references |
| Cuchet et al. (2023) | |
| Cuchet et al. (2016) +1 other reference | |
| Cuchet et al. (2023) | |
| Cuchet et al. (2023) | |
| Buscaroli et al. (1994) |
| Vecchi et al. (2013) |
Japan | |
| National Science Museum specimens (Tokyo) +1 other reference |
| Kotaro Watanabe specimens. +1 other reference |
| Koji Koseki & Hanzo Gohara (1956) |
| Koji Koseki & Hanzo Gohara (1956) | |
| Koji Koseki & Hanzo Gohara (1956) | |
| Matsubara et al. (2013) |
| John Rakovan (2015) |
| Nagashima (1960) |
| Otokichi NAGASHIMA |
| Okada (2011) |
| Nakatsugawa Mineral Museum (Gifu Prefecture, Japan) |
Kazakhstan | |
| Stepanov et al. (2012) |
Madagascar | |
| Behier (1963) |
| Guillaume Estrade (2014) |
| Estrade et al. (2014) | |
| Betts (n.d.) |
| Knut Edvard Larsen collection # MM- 3943 |
| Hercule Shen collection | |
| Rob Lavinsky specimen |
| Knut Edvard Larsen collection # MM-1585 (from near Faratsiho) | |
Malawi | |
| Cairncross et al. (1999) +1 other reference |
Mexico | |
| Panczner (1987) |
| Panczner (1987) |
| Prol-Ledesma et al. (2012) |
Mongolia | |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) +2 other references |
| Can Min 40:1641-1648 |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) | |
| Kartashov P.M. et al. (Mongolian Altai) | |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) +5 other references | |
Myanmar | |
| Pavel M. Kartashov analytical data |
North Korea | |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
Norway | |
| BrĂžgger (1906) |
| Frigstad (1968) |
| Frigstad (1968) | |
| Stensrud (2009) | |
| Stensrud (2009) |
| Stensrud (2009) | |
| BrĂžgger (1906) |
| Nilssen (1970) | |
| Hauser (1908) +1 other reference |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
| Stensrud (2009) |
| Stensrud (2009) | |
| Revheim (2007) |
| Stensrud (2009) | |
| Olav Revheim photo |
| Collection of Iveland Municipality # ... | |
| Breivik et al. (2010) |
| Stensrud (2009) |
| Lund (2016) | |
| BrĂžgger (1906) |
| Jahren et al. (1998) |
| Husdal (2023) |
| Knut Eldjarn Collection | |
| Vogt (1911) |
| Husdal (2008) | |
| Ellingsen et al. (1995) |
| BrĂžgger (1906) |
| BrĂžgger (1906) +1 other reference | |
| BrĂžgger (1906) | |
| Larsen et al. (2016) |
| Raade et al. (1993) |
| Ă mli (1974) |
| Larsen et al. (2010) |
| Larsen (2021) |
| BrĂžgger (1906) |
| BjĂžrlykke (1939) | |
| BrĂžgger (1906) |
| BrĂžgger (1906) | |
Poland | |
| Szuszkiewicz et al. (2013) |
| SZEĆÄG E. |
| CegieĆka et al. (2018) |
| Matyszczak (2018) |
| Matyszczak (2018) | |
| Matyszczak (2018) |
| Matyszczak (2018) |
| Matyszczak (2018) | |
| Matyszczak (2018) |
| Lis et al. (1986) |
| Matyszczak (2018) |
| SzeĆÄg E. & Ć koda R. 2008: Y (Karkonosze Massif, Lower Silesia, Poland) | |
| Pieczka A. +1 other reference | |
Portugal | |
| Ternes |
| Ternes (1999) |
| Pedro Alves collection and analytical ... |
Romania | |
| SzakĂĄll et al. (2010) |
Russia | |
| Am. Min. 90:1402-1412 (2005) |
| Dana 7:I:761. +1 other reference |
| webmineral.ru (2021) |
| Kasatkin et al. (2020) |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
| Savel'eva V.B. Karmanov N.S. (2008) +1 other reference |
| Voloshin et al. (2005) +1 other reference |
| ... | |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
| Zozulya +5 other references | |
| Voloshin A.V. et al. (1986) | |
| Kalashnikov et al. (2016) | |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) +1 other reference | |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) | |
| Zozulya et al. (2022) | |
| Kalashnikov et al. (2016) | |
| Pekov (1998) |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
| Kapustin Yu.L. (1989) |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
| Pekov (1998) |
| Victor V. Sharygin analytycal data (2012) |
Rwanda | |
| Bertossa (1968) +1 other reference |
Saudi Arabia | |
| KĂŒster (2009) +1 other reference |
Slovakia | |
| KodÄra (1986) |
South Africa | |
| |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) |
South Korea | |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
Spain | |
| Dill et al. (2023) |
| Dill et al. (2023) | |
Sri Lanka | |
| Fersman Mineralogical Museum (cat. no. 11267) |
Sweden | |
| |
| |
| Kjellman et al. 1999 |
| Swedish Nat.Musuem |
| |
| |
| Pavel M. Kartashov data |
| Wilke (1997) |
| Wilke (1997) | |
| Gustafsson et al. (1991) |
| Riksmuseet Stockholm specimen |
| Wedding (1989) |
| |
Switzerland | |
| Cuchet et al. (2023) |
| M. Praeger and M. Crumbach: Lapis 29 (7/8) +2 other references |
| Stalder et al. (1998) |
| Cuchet et al. (2014) +1 other reference |
| Cuchet et al. (2014) | |
Tajikistan | |
| I. Pekov data pers. comm. L. HorvĂĄth ... |
UK | |
| Norman R. Moles and Andrew G. Tindle (2011) |
| Norman R. Moles and Andrew G. Tindle (2011) | |
| S Rust collection |
USA | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Miller |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Ream (2004) |
| King et al. (1994) +1 other reference |
| ... |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Robert Janules |
| M.V. Lupulescu et al. (2011) |
| Marian Lupulescu (2010) |
| Bernard et al. (2004) |
| Warner et al. (2009) |
| Warner et al. (2009) | |
| ... | |
| American Mineralogist (1925) |
| Arthur Smith et al. (2008) |
| Kearns et al. (2016) |
| Hanson et al. (1999) |
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