Florencite-(Sm)

florencite-(Sm)

dravite

xenotime-(Y)

florencite-(Ce)

Images

Formula: SmAl3(PO4)2(OH)6
Anhydrous phosphate, plumbogummite group, alunite supergroup, samarium-bearing mineral
Crystal System: Trigonal
Specific gravity: 3.70 measured, 3.743 calculated
Hardness: 5½ to 6
Streak: White
Colour: Colourless, pale pink to pale yellow in aggregates.
Luminescence: The cathodoluminescence spectrum of florencite-(Sm) shows two sharp lines at 592 nm (green, Sm3+) and 558 nm (yellow, Nd3+) (AM 97.1528-1529).
Environments

Hydrothermal environments

Florencite-(Sm) was approved in 2009 but to date (February 2025) has been reported only from the type locality.

Localities

At the type locality, the Svodovyi area, Grubependity Lake, Maldynyrd range, Kozhim River Basin, Komi Republic, Russia, florencite-(Sm) was found in quartz veins up to 3 m thick situated in quartz conglomerate near its contacts with aluminium-enriched metasomatites. The veins consist of the aggregate of gigantic anhedral milky or smoky quartz crystals with blue asbestos-like dravite near the selvages. The intergrowths of pink partly euhedral or anhedral florencite-(Ce) crystals up to 3 cm with xenotime-(Y) were found in the central part of the veins. Florencite-(Sm) forms multiple zones 0.01 to 0.1 mm thick within rhombohedral crystals of florencite-(Ce). The total thickness of closely located series of samarium-enriched zones is 1 to 3 mm. Florencite-(Sm) is transparent, colourless to pale-pink or pale-yellow, vitreous to greasy with a white streak (AM 97.1528-1529).
Florencite-(Sm) from the Svodovyi area - Image

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