Yushkinite

yushkinite

sphalerite

fluorite

sulvanite

Images

Formula: (Mg,Al)(OH)₂VS₂
Valence: (Mg,Al)(OH)₂V^3.6+S^2-₂
Sulphide, valleriite group, vanadium-bearing mineral
Crystal System: Trigonal
Specific gravity: 2.94 measured, 3.00 calculated
Hardness: 1
Colour: Pinkish purple
Solubility: Becomes dark and decomposes in concentrated hydrochloric and nitric acid, quickly becomes brown in 10% FeCl₂
Environments

Hydrothermal environments

Although yushkinite was approved in 1983, to date (July 2026) it has been reported only from the type locality.

Localities

At the type locality, the Yushkinite gorge, Middle Silova-Yakha River, Pai-Khoi Range, Yugorskii Peninsula, Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia, yushkinite occurs with cadmium-bearing sphalerite, fluorite and sulvanite in quartz-carbonate veins within carbonate rocks. It forms fine flaky, scaly aggregates up to 8 mm in size, or 5 to 12 mm long veins, within quartz and calcite (AM 71.845-847).
Yushkinite from the Yushkinite gorge - Image

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