Cappelenite-(Y)

cappelenite-(Y)

wohlerite

rosenbuschite

catapleiite

Images

Formula: BaY6B6Si3O24F2
Nesosilicate (insular SiO4 groups), borosilicate, barium- and yttrium- bearing mineral
Crystal System: Trigonal
Specific gravity: 4.407 measured, 4.43 calculated
Hardness: 6 to 6½
Streak:
Colour: Greenish brown
Environments

Pegmatites

Localities

At Lille Arøya, Larvik, Vestfold, Norway, cappelenite-(Y) occurs in a small vein in nepheline syenite pegmatite, associated with wöhlerite, rosenbuschite, thorite, catapleiite, låvenite, nepheline and sodalite (HOM).

At the type locality, Natrolittodden, Vesle Arøya, Larvik, Vestfold, Norway, only a few specimens of yellow-brown cappelenite-(Y) have been found in a small nepheline syenite pegmatite. Cappelenite-(Y) is completely metamict, but is reconstituted by heating to 700oC. It is one of very few yttrium-bearing minerals from the nepheline syenite pegmatites of the Oslo region (others include fergusonite-(Y), xenotime-(Y), tritomite-(Y), hingganite-(Y), allanite-(Y) and kainosite-(Y)) (JWW p162, p152).

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