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Xenotime-(Y)

Xenotime
Xenotime with Rutile-08-2-78ab.jpg
Xenotime with Rutile
General
Category Phosphate minerals
Formula
(repeating unit)
YPO4
Strunz classification 8.AD.35
Crystal system Tetragonal
Crystal class Dipyramidal (4/mmm)
H-M symbol: (4/m)
Space group I41/a
Identification
Color Brown, brownish yellow, gray
Crystal habit Prismatic, radial aggregates, granular
Cleavage Perfect [100]
Fracture Uneven to splintery
Mohs scale hardness 4.5
Luster Vitreous to resinous
Streak Pale brown, yellowish or reddish, to white
Diaphaneity Translucent to opaque
Specific gravity 4.4–5.1
Refractive index 1.720-1.815
Birefringence δ = 0.096
Pleochroism Dichroic
Other characteristics Not Radioactive or luminescent
References

Xenotime is a rare earth phosphate mineral, the major component of which is yttrium orthophosphate (YPO4). It forms a solid solution series with chernovite-(Y) (YAsO4) and therefore may contain trace impurities of arsenic as well as silicon dioxide and calcium. The rare earth elements dysprosium, erbium, terbium and ytterbium as well as metal elements such as thorium and uranium (all replacing yttrium) are the expressive secondary components of xenotime. Due to uranium and thorium impurities, some xenotime specimens may be weakly to strongly radioactive. Lithiophyllite, monazite and purpurite are sometimes grouped with xenotime in the informal "anhydrous phosphates" group. Xenotime is used chiefly as a source of yttrium and heavy lanthanide metals (dysprosium, ytterbium, erbium and gadolinium). Occasionally, gemstones are also cut from the finer xenotime crystals.

The name xenotime is from the Greek words κενός vain and τιμή honor, akin to "vainglory". It was coined by French mineralogist François Sulpice Beudant as a rebuke of another scientist, Swedish chemist Jöns Jacob Berzelius, for the latter's premature claim to have found in the mineral a new chemical element (later understood to be previously discovered yttrium). The criticism was blunted, as over time "kenotime" was misread and misprinted "xenotime". Xenotime was first described for an occurrence in Vest-Agder, Norway in 1824.


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