Samarskite-(Y)

 IMA-GP
Uranium 8.1.11.1
(Dana Classification Number)
(Images) 4/D.19-60
(Strunz ID)

Property Data Remarks
Named for: Vasilii Yefrafovich von Samarski-Bykhovets (1803-1870), Chief of Staff of the Russian Corps of Mining Engineers
Alternate
    Name(s):
  • Samarskite
    		•   
    Mineral Class:
    Oxides
      Oxides with metal: (metal:oxygen = 1:2)
    (MO2 and related compounds)
        Polycrase-(Y) - Loranskite-(Y) series
    		 
    Chemical
        Formula:    		 (Y, Ce, U, Fe)3(Nb, Ta, Ti)5O16  
    Chemical
        Composition:
    Iron: (Fe) 5.59%
    Niobium: (Nb) 24.79%
    Oxygen: (O) 21.34%
    Tantalum: (Ta) 12.07%
    Yttrium: (Y) 5.93%
    Uranium: (U) 15.88%
    REE2O3:
      Lanthanum:
      Cerium:
      Praeseodymium:
      Neodymium:
      Samarium:    		  
    (La)
    (Ce)
    (Pr)
    (Nd)
    (Sm)    		 | 
    |
    |
    |
    |
    |    		 14.41%
    		by weight
    Molecular
        Weight:    		 299.85 daltons (amu)
    Specific
        Radioactivity:

    (All radiation is for a 1 gram, fully aged specimen)

    Specific Activity Dose Rate
    Becquerels Curies milliRems/hour microSieverts/hour
    2.8743 × 1004 7.77 × 10-07 0.40 39.53

    Estimated Average Annual Exposure: 360 mRem (3.6 milliSieverts)
    Crystalography:
    System: Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal
    Axial Ratios: a: 0.3834
    b: 1
    c: 0.357
    Cell Dimensions: a: 5.498 Å
    b: 14.34 Å
    c: 5.12 Å
    Z: 4
    V: 403.67 Å3
    DenCalc: 4.93
    H-M Symbol: 2/m 2/m 2/m
    Space Group: Pbcn
    X-Ray Diffraction:
      By Intensity ( I/Io )    		 (1): 2.98 Å
    (0.9): 2.92 Å
    (0.4): 3.13 Å
    		Samarskite-(Y)
    Crystal
    Habit: Massive (typical)
  • Stubby prismatic crystals, often embedded in the host pegmatite
  • Granular
    		•   
    Cleavage:
    [???] Imperfect
    		 
    Fracture: Brittle - Conchoidal  
    Moh's
        Hardness:    		 5 - 6  
    Density: 4.3 - 5.87 (extreme variation caused by variable composition) grams/cm3
    Color: Dark pitchy to velvety Black to Dark brown  
    Streak: Reddish brown  
    Luster: Vitreous to Resinous
    Fresh surfaces can have a submetallic luster    		  
    Diaphaneity: Opaque  
    Pleochroism:
    (x):  
    (y:)  
    (z:)  
    		 
    Ultra Violet
        Fluorescence:    		 Non-fluorescent  
    Magnetism: Non-magnetic  
    Occurance:
  • REE rich granite pegmatites.
    		•   
    Associated
        Minerals:

    Albite, Allanite-(Ce), Almandine, 'Apatite', Autunite, Bertrandite, Beryl, Biotite, Bismuthinite, Bismutite, Calcite, Cassiterite, Chalcocite, Chalcopyrite, 'Chlorite Group', 'Columbite', Elbaite, Epidote, Euxenite-(Y), 'Fergusonite', Ferrocolumbite, Fluorapatite, Fluorite, Gadolinite-(Y), Gahnite, 'Garnet Group', Goethite, Hematite, 'Hornblende', Ilmenite, Kaolinite, Lepidolite, 'Limonite', Magnetite, Malachite, Microcline, Microcline var: Amazonite, Microlite, Molybdenite, Monazite-(Ce), Muscovite, 'Oligoclase', Orthoclase, Phenakite, Pyrite, Pyrochlore, Quartz, Quartz var: Smoky Quartz, Rutile var: Ilmenorutile, Schorl, Spessartine, Sphalerite, Thorite, Titanite, Topaz, Torbernite, 'Tourmaline Group', Uraninite, Uranophane, Xenotime-(Y), Yttrotantalite-(Y), Zircon, Zircon var: Cyrtolite

    Mineral   -   > 43% of sites
    Mineral   -   > 26% of sites
    Mineral   -   > 10% of sites
    Minerals   -   Uranium & Thorium
    mineral links

    		These are minerals known to be found with Samarskite-(Y)
    Locations: Samarskite-(Y) Locations
    Notes:

    Strongly radioactive a- and b-particles, g-rays.

    Specimens and crystals are often coated with a limonite-like earthy coating.

    Samarskite-(Y) Images

    Specimen Top
    (001a) (001b) (001c) (001d)
    (001e)

    (Weathered surface overgrowm with rootlets)
    Spinelli Samarskite Prospect, Glastonbury, Hartford Co., Connecticut, USA
    (all the above)


    Specimen Notes

    Occurrence -  

     

      -  

     

    Specimen Physical Properties
    Weight: x grams    
    g-Radiation Level:   cmp   msieverts background: 20 cpm