Samarskite-(Y)

Overview

(Y,Fe+3,U)(Nb,Ta)5O4
Fluorescence: none	Very Strongly Radioactive	Magnetic: no

Description

Physical Properties

Property	Value
Density	5.6-5.8 g/cc
Hardness - Mohs	Samarskite-(Y) - 5.0-6.0  10 Diamond 9 Carborundum 8 Topaz 7 Quartz 6 Orthoclase 5 Apatite 4 Fluorite 3 Calcite 2 Gypsum 1 Talc
Color	black, brown
Streak	reddish brown

Crystal Properties

Property	Value
Crystal structure	orthorhombic - dipyramidal
Cleavage	imperfect
Tenacity	brittle
Fracture	conchoidal
Luster	vitreous, resinous

Similar Minerals

Dana Number : 08.01.11.01

Class: 08

Group: 08.01

Subgroup: 08.01.11 - samarskite

Dana Number	Mineral Name	Formula
08.01.11.01	samarskite-(Y)	(Y,Fe+3,U)(Nb,Ta)5O4
08.01.11.02	samarskite-(Yb)	(Yb,Y,U,Th,Ca,Fe+2,REE)(Nb,Ta,Ti)O4

Nickel-Strunz Number : 04.DB.25

Group : 04

Subgroup : DB

Nickel-Strunz Number	Mineral Name	Formula
04.DB.25	samarskite-(Y)	(Y,Fe+3,U)(Nb,Ta)5O4
04.DB.25	samarskite-(Yb)	(Yb,Y,U,Th,Ca,Fe+2,REE)(Nb,Ta,Ti)O4

Specimens

Localities

Uses