page_title: Xenotime
hierarchical_section_title: Xenotime
caption_attribution_description: English: Rutile Locality: Novo Horizonte, Bahia, Northeast Region, Brazil (Locality at mindat.org) Size: thumbnail, 2.8 x 1.6 x 1.5 cm Xenotime with Rutile From a small find in January, this is a shockingly large and well-developed xenotime crystal with unusually good lustre , rich chocolate color, and unusually equant crystalllographic form. Furthermore, clusters are rare, of this species, particularly from Brazil. This crystal is complete all around, 360 degrees. As a final accent, we have inclusions of golden rutile in the xenotime, included 0.1 to 1 mm below the surface (though the photo makes it look like they are on the surface, that is an illusion - actually they are under a thin translucent layer of xenotime). A pocket the size of a basketball was hit, and I cherrypicked the choice specimens from this very surprising find! Deutsch: Rutil Fundort: Novo Horizonte, Bahia, Northeast Region, Brasilien (Fundort bei mindat.org) Größe: 2.8 x 1.6 x 1.5 cm
context_page_description: Xenotime is a rare-earth phosphate mineral, the major component of which is yttrium orthophosphate. It forms a solid solution series with chernovite- and therefore may contain trace impurities of arsenic, as well as silicon dioxide and calcium. The rare-earth elements dysprosium, erbium, terbium and ytterbium, as well as metal elements such as thorium and uranium are the expressive secondary components of xenotime. Due to uranium and thorium impurities, some xenotime specimens may be weakly to strongly radioactive. Lithiophyllite, monazite and purpurite are sometimes grouped with xenotime in the informal "anhydrous phosphates" group. Xenotime is used chiefly as a source of yttrium and heavy lanthanide metals. Occasionally, gemstones are also cut from the finest xenotime crystals.
context_section_description: Xenotime is a rare-earth phosphate mineral, the major component of which is yttrium orthophosphate (YPO₄). It forms a solid solution series with chernovite-(Y) (YAsO₄) and therefore may contain trace impurities of arsenic, as well as silicon dioxide and calcium. The rare-earth elements dysprosium, erbium, terbium and ytterbium, as well as metal elements such as thorium and uranium (all replacing yttrium) are the expressive secondary components of xenotime. Due to uranium and thorium impurities, some xenotime specimens may be weakly to strongly radioactive. Lithiophyllite, monazite and purpurite are sometimes grouped with xenotime in the informal "anhydrous phosphates" group. 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.
caption: Xenotime with rutile
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