Formula: YFe3+Nb2O8
Multiple oxide, samarskite group
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 5 to 5.69 measured, 6.28 calculated
Hardness: 5 to 6
Streak: Dark reddish brown to black
Colour: Black internally, pale to yellow-brown surface
RADIOACTIVE
Environments
Samarskite-(Y) is an accessory mineral in rare earth rich granite pegmatites,
common but not abundant, rarely as a detrital mineral. Associated minerals include columbite,
zircon, monazite,
uraninite, aeschynite,
magnetite, albite,
topaz, beryl,
garnet, muscovite and
biotite
(HOM). Samarskite-(Y) occurs naturally in the metamict state due to the presence of significant amounts of radioactive
elements such as uranium and thorium as impurities
(AM 69.377-379).
Localities
Near Sabinópolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil, samarskite-(Y) occurs in parallel growth with
columbite
(Dana).
At Maisonneuve mine, Saint-Michel-des-Saints, Matawinie RCM, Lanaudière, Quebec, Canada, samarskite-(Y) occurs with
beryl and fergusonite
(Dana).
At Antanamalaza, district of Ambatolampy, Vakinankaratra Region, Madagascar, samarskite-(Y) occurs with
almandine and magnetite
(Dana).
At Ånnerud (Ånnerød), Våler, Østfold, Norway, samarskite-(Y) occurs with columbite
in a pegmatite
(Dana).
Samarskite-(Y) from Ånnerud - Image
At Miass, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia, samarskite-(Y) occurs with columbite,
aeschynite, monazite and
garnet
(Dana).
The type locality is Pit No. 50, Ilmen Mountains, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia.
Samarskite-(Y) from Pit No. 50 - Image
At Topsham, Sagadahoc county, Maine, USA, samarskite-(Y) occurs with
monazite
(Dana).
At Spruce Pine, Mitchell county, North Carolina, USA, samarskite-(Y) occurs with columbite
and a variety of microlite
(Dana).
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