Samarskite-(Yb)

samarskite-(Yb)

samarskite-(Y)

zircon

columbite

Formula: YbNbO₄
Multiple oxide, samarskite group
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 7.03 measured, 7.079 calculated
Hardness: 5 to 6
Streak: Brown to black
Colour: Black
Common impurities: U,Th,Ca,Fe(II),Ta,Er,Y,Dy
RADIOACTIVE
Environments

Pegmatites

Samarskite-(Yb) was approved in 2004, but to date (September 2023) it has been confirmed only at its type locality.

Localities

At the type locality, the Little Patsy pegmatite, South Platte Pegmatite Mining District, Jefferson county, Colorado, USA, samarskite-(Yb) is a late-stage replacement mineral at the contact between core and margin of a pegmatite. It occurs as anhedral metamict masses, up to tens of cms in size, intergrown with columbite-(Fe) and zircon. Other associated minerals include samarskite-(Y), monazite-(Ce) and ishikawaite (Mindat).

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