What is Samarskite used for?
Uses: A minor ore of rare earth elements and uranium, sometimes cut as a gemstone and as mineral specimens.
Where is Samarskite found?
Samarskite was first described in 1847 for an occurrence in Miass, Ilmen Mountains, Southern Ural Mountains of Russia. The chemical element samarium was first isolated from a specimen of samarskite in 1879….
| Samarskite-(Y) | |
|---|---|
| Cleavage | {010}, indistinct |
| Fracture | Conchoidal fragments |
| Tenacity | Brittle |
| Mohs scale hardness | 5 – 6 |
What is Torbernite mineral?
Torbernite is a copper phosphate mineral that contains uranium, making it somewhat radioactive. Although it can be used as a uranium ore, it’s more valued as a collectors mineral. It can be used as a good indicator of uranium deposits, however.
What is Euxenite used for?
Use. Euxenite is used as an ore of the rare earth elements it contains. Rare large crystals have also been used in jewelry.
Where is xenotime found?
Occurring as a minor accessory mineral, xenotime is found in pegmatites and other igneous rocks, as well as gneisses rich in mica and quartz.
What type of rock is monazite?
Monazite is a rare phosphate mineral with a chemical composition of (Ce,La,Nd,Th)(PO4,SiO4). It usually occurs in small isolated grains, as an accessory mineral in igneous and metamorphic rocks such as granite, pegmatite, schist, and gneiss.
Is torbernite safe?
Torbernite is a dangerous mineral composed of hydrated green copper, phosphate, and uranyl. The mineral releases radon naturally and can cause lung cancer if exposure is long enough.
How hard is torbernite?
Torbernite is isostructural with the related uranium mineral, autunite. The chemical formula of torbernite is similar to that of autunite in which a Cu2+ cation replaces a Ca2+….
| Torbernite | |
|---|---|
| Fracture | Brittle |
| Mohs scale hardness | 2 – 2.5 |
| Luster | Vitreous; Pearly |
| Streak | Pale green |
Where can Euxenite be found?
These minerals are widespread in Norway, Madagascar, and Canada and also occur in Sweden, Finland, Greenland, Australia, Brazil, and the U.S. For chemical formula and detailed physical properties, see oxide mineral (table).
What is pyrochlore structure?
Pyrochlores are ceramics with the cubic fluorite-type structure, and the general chemical formula A2B2O7, where A is a 3+ cation (La3+, Nd3+, Gd3+, Sm3+, Y3+) B is a 4+ cation (e.g., Zr4+, Ti4+, Mo4+), and 1/8th of the oxygen positions are vacant. From: Encyclopedia of Electrochemical Power Sources, 2009.
What is the use of xenotime?
Xenotime is used chiefly as a source of yttrium and heavy lanthanide metals (dysprosium, ytterbium, erbium and gadolinium). Occasionally, gemstones are also cut from the finest xenotime crystals.
Is xenotime a mineral?
xenotime, widely distributed phosphate mineral, yttrium phosphate (YPO4), though large proportions of erbium commonly replace yttrium), that occurs as brown, glassy crystals, crystal aggregates, or rosettes in igneous rocks and associated pegmatites, in quartzose and micaceous gneiss, and commonly in detrital material.