Detailed information
Species
Xenotime-(Y)
Dimensions
37 x 12 x 11
mm
Weight
16 g
Locality
Novo Horizonte Bahia Brazil
Condition
No recorded repairs
A really excellent example of the rare yttrium phosphate, Xenotime-(Y) from Novo Horizonte, in Bahia, Brazil. Mounted vertically on a small, square acrylic base, this fine chocolate to clove brown tetragonal crystal has a glassy lustre and stands an impressive 3.7 cm tall. The complex mineralised district of Novo Horizonte has only 17 recorded species, but almost every one of these is rare and also includes two type localities. For those not particularly familiar with the geography of Brazil, the locality lies towards the east Atlantic coast, approximately half way down Brazil and about 420 km west of Salvador. Xenotime-(Y) has the simple formula Y(PO4), yet may contain minor heavy rare earth elements together with traces of calcium, uranium, thorium, silicon and fluorine. This is a splendid crystal which will display well.