Samarskite-(Y)
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Samarskite-(Y)
Formula:
YFe3+Nb2O8
previously formulated as (Y,Fe3+,Fe2+,U,Th,Ca)2(Nb,Ta)2O8 (IMA proposal 19-J)
Colour:
Black internally, pale to yellow-brown surface
Lustre:
Vitreous, Resinous, Sub-Metallic
Hardness:
5 - 6
Specific Gravity:
5 - 5.69
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named in honor of Colonel Vasilii Yevgrafovich Samarskii-Bykhovets (Васи́лий Евгра́фович Сама́рский-Быховец) (7 November 1803 – 31 May 1870), Russian mining engineer and Chief of Staff of the Russian Corps of Mining Engineers, for granting access to some mineral samples for study. The element samarium, isolated from the mineral, is thus also named after him.
Samarskite Group.
The Y analogue of samarskite-(Yb).
The Fe(III) analogue of shakhdaraite-(Y).
Due to cation ordering Fe is written separately in the formula; it is an essential cation.
"...first example of cation-ordered niobate structurally related to layered double tungstates AMW2O8".
The framework of samarskite-(Y) is pseudo-layered and is related to that of "wolframite" via Nb-for-W substitution with a simultaneous replacement of the [FeO6] layers by the [YO8] one.
The Y analogue of samarskite-(Yb).
The Fe(III) analogue of shakhdaraite-(Y).
Due to cation ordering Fe is written separately in the formula; it is an essential cation.
"...first example of cation-ordered niobate structurally related to layered double tungstates AMW2O8".
The framework of samarskite-(Y) is pseudo-layered and is related to that of "wolframite" via Nb-for-W substitution with a simultaneous replacement of the [FeO6] layers by the [YO8] one.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3512
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3512:1
Similar Names
| Samarskite-(Yb) | A valid IMA mineral species | YbFe3+(Nb,Ta)2O8 |
IMA Classification of Samarskite-(Y)
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
YFe3+Nb5+2O8
Approval year:
1980
Classification of Samarskite-(Y)
4.DB.25
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
B : With medium-sized cations; chains of edge-sharing octahedra
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
B : With medium-sized cations; chains of edge-sharing octahedra
8.1.11.1
8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
1 : ABO4
8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
1 : ABO4
18.4.12
18 : Niobates and Tantalates
4 : Niobates and tantalates containing both U and rare earths
18 : Niobates and Tantalates
4 : Niobates and tantalates containing both U and rare earths
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Smk-Y | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Samarskite-(Y)
Vitreous, Resinous, Sub-Metallic
Colour:
Black internally, pale to yellow-brown surface
Comment:
Brown in transmitted light.
Streak:
Dark reddish brown to black
Hardness:
5 - 6 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=736 - 897 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Poor/Indistinct
On {010} (?)
On {010} (?)
Fracture:
Conchoidal, Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
5 - 5.69 g/cm3 (Measured) 6.28 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Samarskite-(Y)
Type:
Isotropic
RI values:
n = 2.1 - 2.2
Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Chemistry of Samarskite-(Y)
Mindat Formula:
YFe3+Nb2O8
previously formulated as (Y,Fe3+,Fe2+,U,Th,Ca)2(Nb,Ta)2O8 (IMA proposal 19-J)
previously formulated as (Y,Fe3+,Fe2+,U,Th,Ca)2(Nb,Ta)2O8 (IMA proposal 19-J)
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Age distribution
Recorded ages:
Late/Upper Devonian : 380 Ma to 361 Ma - based on 5 recorded ages.
Sample ages:
| Sample ID | Recorded age | Geologic Time | Dating method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 380 to 361 Ma | Late/Upper Devonian | U-Pb |
| 2 | 380 to 361 Ma | Late/Upper Devonian | U-Pb |
| 3 | 380 to 361 Ma | Late/Upper Devonian | U-Pb |
| 4 | 380 to 361 Ma | Late/Upper Devonian | U-Pb |
Sample references:
| ID | Locality | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Itambé, Bahia, Brazil | ||
| 2 | " " | ||
| 3 | " " | ||
| 4 | " " |
Chemical Analysis
Empirical formulas:
| Sample ID | Empirical Formula |
|---|---|
| 1 | (Y0.66,Fe3+0.52,Ti0.22,Ca0.19,U0.13,Sc0.08,Mn0.05,Yb0.05,Th0.03)1.95 (Nb1.16,Ta0.76,W0.05,Ti0.04)2.00 O8 |
Sample references:
| ID | Locality | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brattekleiv Feldspar Quarry, Lauvland, Evje og Hornnes, Agder, Norway | Black anhedral masses in feldspar, reddish-brown internal reflections, associated with columbite and biotite. SEM-EDS of small fragment (30 keV, semiquantitative, standardless, O by stoichiometry). |
Crystallography of Samarskite-(Y)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P2/b
Setting:
P2/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.8020(8) Å, b = 5.6248(3) Å, c = 5.2073(4) Å
β = 93.406(4)°
β = 93.406(4)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.743 : 1 : 0.926
Unit Cell V:
286.59 ų
Z:
2
Morphology:
Prismatic [001] (with rectangular cross-section); tabular {100} or {010} less common; elongated [010] with prominent {101} at times. Crystals rough. Massive.
Comment:
Previously thought to be orthorhombic (Pbcn); the true structure refinement is based on material from Laacher See
Crystallographic forms of Samarskite-(Y)
Crystal Atlas:
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Samarskite-(Y) no.7 - {010} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
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X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.030 Å | (1000 |
| 3.728 Å | (15) |
| 2.843 Å | (15) |
| 2.603 Å | (15) |
| 2.495 Å | (10) |
| 1.920 Å | (10) |
| 1.863 Å | (10) |
Comments:
(XRD data obtained by heating metamict mineral until crystallinity is restored, with no guarantee that the structure is identical to the original pre-metamict structure.)
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 26 : Hadean detrital minerals | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 34 : Complex granite pegmatites |
Geological Setting:
pegmatites
Type Occurrence of Samarskite-(Y)
Synonyms of Samarskite-(Y)
Other Language Names for Samarskite-(Y)
Varieties of Samarskite-(Y)
| Titanium-bearing Samarskite-(Y) | A variety of Samarskite-(Y) containing up to 10 mass% of TiO2. |
| Vietinghofite | A supposed ferroan samarksite of uncertain composition. Of doubtful validity. |
Relationship of Samarskite-(Y) to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Samarskite Group:
| Calciosamarskite | (Ca,U4+)Fe3+(Nb,Ta,Ti)2O8 | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) |
| Ishikawaite | U4+Fe2+Nb2O8 | Mon. |
| Samarskite-(Yb) | YbFe3+(Nb,Ta)2O8 | Mon. 2/m : P2/b |
| Shakhdaraite-(Y) | ScYNb2O8 | Mon. 2/m : P2/b |
| Yttrotantalite-(Y) | (Y,U,Fe2+)(Ta,Nb)(O,OH)4 | Orth. |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 68 photos of Samarskite-(Y) associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| 48 photos of Samarskite-(Y) associated with Columbite-(Fe) | Fe2+Nb2O6 |
| 23 photos of Samarskite-(Y) associated with Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 22 photos of Samarskite-(Y) associated with Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| 15 photos of Samarskite-(Y) associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 11 photos of Samarskite-(Y) associated with 'Columbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) Series' | |
| 10 photos of Samarskite-(Y) associated with 'Columbite-Tantalite' | |
| 8 photos of Samarskite-(Y) associated with Mica Group | |
| 7 photos of Samarskite-(Y) associated with 'Cyrtolite' | Zr[(SiO4),(OH)4] |
| 4 photos of Samarskite-(Y) associated with Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.DB. | Tianhongqiite | CrTiO3(OH) |
| 4.DB. | Nioboheftetjernite | ScNbO4 |
| 4.DB. | Huangshanite | Fe3+TaO4 |
| 4.DB. | Nioboixiolite-(Mn2+) | (Nb0.67Mn2+0.33)O2 |
| 4.DB. | Shakhdaraite-(Y) | ScYNb2O8 |
| 4.DB.05 | Varlamoffite | Sn1-xFexO2-x(OH) |
| 4.DB.05 | Argutite | GeO2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Cassiterite | SnO2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Rutile | TiO2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Plattnerite | PbO2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Tripuhyite | Fe3+Sb5+O4 |
| 4.DB.05 | Tugarinovite | MoO2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Pyrolusite | Mn4+O2 |
| 4.DB.10 | Byströmite | MgSb2O6 |
| 4.DB.10 | Ordoñezite | ZnSb2O6 |
| 4.DB.10 | Tredouxite | NiSb2O6 |
| 4.DB.10 | Tapiolite-(Mn) | Mn2+Ta2O6 |
| 4.DB.10 | Tapiolite-(Fe) | Fe2+Ta2O6 |
| 4.DB.15a | Paramontroseite | V4+O2 |
| 4.DB.15a | Ramsdellite | Mn4+O2 |
| 4.DB.15b | Akhtenskite | ε-Mn4+O2 |
| 4.DB.15c | Nsutite | (Mn4+,Mn2+)(O,OH)2 |
| 4.DB.20 | Scrutinyite | α-PbO2 |
| 4.DB.20 | Nioboixiolite-([]) | (Nb0.8◻0.2)4+O2 |
| 4.DB.25 | Ishikawaite | U4+Fe2+Nb2O8 |
| 4.DB.25 | Yttrocolumbite-(Y) | Y(U4+,Fe2+)Nb2O8 |
| 4.DB.25 | Calciosamarskite | (Ca,U4+)Fe3+(Nb,Ta,Ti)2O8 |
| 4.DB.25 | Samarskite-(Yb) | YbFe3+(Nb,Ta)2O8 |
| 4.DB.25 | Ixiolite-(Sc) | (Ta0.5Sc0.5)O2 |
| 4.DB.25 | Ixiolite-(Fe2+) | (Ta0.67Fe2+0.33)O2 |
| 4.DB.25 | Ixiolite-(Mn2+) | (Ta0.67Mn2+0.33)O2 |
| 4.DB.25 | Nioboixiolite-(Fe2+) | (Nb0.67Fe2+0.33)O2 |
| 4.DB.25 | Srilankite | TiO2 |
| 4.DB.25 | Nioboixiolite-(Fe3+) | (Nb0.5Fe3+0.5)O2 |
| 4.DB.30 va | Wolframite Group | |
| 4.DB.30 | Rossovskyite | (Fe3+,Ta)(Nb,Ti)O4 |
| 4.DB.30 | Huanzalaite | MgWO4 |
| 4.DB.30 | Heftetjernite | ScTaO4 |
| 4.DB.30 | Hübnerite | MnWO4 |
| 4.DB.30 | Sanmartinite | (Zn,Fe)WO4 |
| 4.DB.30 | Ferberite | FeWO4 |
| 4.DB.30 | 'Krasnoselskite' | CoWO4 |
| 4.DB.35 | Qitianlingite | (Fe,Mn)2(Nb,Ta)2WO10 |
| 4.DB.35 | Tantalaeschynite-(Ce) | Ce(TiTa)O6 |
| 4.DB.35 | Tantalite-(Mg) | (Mg,Fe2+)(Ta,Nb)2O6 |
| 4.DB.35 | Columbite-(Mn) | Mn2+Nb2O6 |
| 4.DB.35 | Tantalite-(Mn) | Mn2+Ta2O6 |
| 4.DB.35 | Columbite-(Fe) | Fe2+Nb2O6 |
| 4.DB.35 | Columbite-(Mg) | (Mg,Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)2O6 |
| 4.DB.35 | Tantalite-(Fe) | Fe2+Ta2O6 |
| 4.DB.40 | Ferrotitanowodginite | Fe2+TiTa2O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | 'Wolframowodginite' | Mn(Mn,Sn,Fe,Ta)(W,Ta,Nb)2O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Lithiotantite | LiTa3O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Lithiowodginite | LiTa3O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Titanowodginite | Mn2+TiTa2O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Tantalowodginite | (Mn2+0.5◻0.5)TaTa2O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Wodginite | Mn2+Sn4+Ta2O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Ferrowodginite | Fe2+Sn4+Ta2O8 |
| 4.DB.45 | Tivanite | V3+TiO3(OH) |
| 4.DB.50 | Carmichaelite | (Ti,Cr,Fe)[O2-x(OH)x] |
| 4.DB.55 | Alumotantite | AlTaO4 |
| 4.DB.60 | Biehlite | ((Sb,As)O)2[MoO4] |
Other Information
Health Risks:
Mineral is radioactive, some specimens may be strong radioactive.
Internet Links for Samarskite-(Y)
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https://www.mindat.org/min-3512.html
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References for Samarskite-(Y)
Reference List:
Tschernick, Georges (1926) Recherches sur la composition chimique de deux minéraux de Madagascar, l'ampangabéite et la columbite. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 49 (3) 127-135 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1926.4307(as ampangabéite)
Ellsworth, H. V. (1928) A mineral related to samarskite from the Woodcox mine, Hybla, Ontario. American Mineralogist, 13 (2) 63-65
Ellsworth, H. V. (1928) A mineral related to samarskite from Parry Sound, Ontario. American Mineralogist, 13 (2) 66-68
Murdoch, Joseph (1951) Notes on California Minerals: nuevite=samarskite; trona and hanksite; gaylussite. American Mineralogist, 36 (3-4) 358-361
Van Wambeke, L. (1960) Étude comparative de l'ampangabéite et de la samarskite. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 83 (10) 295-309 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1960.5430(amphangabeite identical with samarskite)
Keller, Ludwig, Wagner, C. N. J. (1983) Diffraction analysis of metamict samarskite. American Mineralogist, 68 (3-4) 459-465
Sugitani, Yoshinori, Suzuki, Yoshihisa, Nagashima, Kozo (1984) Recovery of the original samarskite structure by heating in a reducing atmosphere. American Mineralogist, 69 (3-4) 377-379
Keller, Ludwig (1984) Diffraction study of annealing of metamict samarskite. American Mineralogist, 69 (9-10) 954-960
Sugitani, Yoshinori, Suzuki, Yoshihisa, Nagashima, Kozo (1985) Polymorphism of samarskite and its relationship to other structurally related Nb-Ta oxides with the α-PbO2 structure. American Mineralogist, 70 (7-8) 856-866
Lumpkin, G. R.; Ewing, R. C.; Eyal, Y. (1988) Preferential leaching and natural annealing of alpha-recoil tracks in metamict betafite and samarskite. Journal of Materials Research, 3 (2). 357-368 doi:10.1557/jmr.1988.0357
Warner, Julie K., Ewing, Rodney C. (1993) Crystal chemistry of samarskite. American Mineralogist, 78 (3-4) 419-424
Pinckston, D. Robert, Smith, Dorian G. W. (1995) Mineralogy of the Lake zone, Thor Lake rare-metals deposit, N.W.T., Canada. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 32 (4) 516-532 doi:10.1139/e95-044
Hanson, S. L., Simmons, W. B., Falster, A. U., Foord, E. E., Lichte, F. E. (1999) Proposed nomenclature for samarskite-group minerals: new data on ishikawaite and calciosamarskite. Mineralogical Magazine, 63 (1) 27-36 doi:10.1180/002646199548286
Tomašić, Nenad, Gajović, Andreja, Bermanec, Vladimir, Linarić, Maša, Rajić Su, Dangsheng Š koda (2010) Preservation of the samarskite structure in a metamict ABO4 mineral: a key to crystal structure identification. European Journal of Mineralogy, 22 (3) 435-442 doi:10.1127/0935-1221/2010/0022-2032
Capitani, Gian Carlo, Mugnaioli, Enrico, Guastoni, Alessandro (2016) What is the actual structure of samarskite-(Y)? A TEM investigation of metamict samarskite from the Garnet Codera dike pegmatite (Central Italian Alps) American Mineralogist, 101 (7) 1679-1690 doi:10.2138/am-2016-5605
Britvin, Sergey N., Pekov, Igor V., Krzhizhanovskaya, Maria G., Agakhanov, Atali A., Ternes, Bernd, Schüller, Willi, Chukanov, Nikita V. (2019) Redefinition and crystal chemistry of samarskite-(Y), YFe3+Nb2O8: cation-ordered niobate structurally related to layered double tungstates. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 46 (7) 727-741 doi:10.1007/s00269-019-01034-0
Zamiatina, Daria A.; Mandrygina, Darya A.; Mikhaylovskaya, Zoya A.; Bulatov, Vladislav A.; Medvedeva, Elena V.; Zamyatin, Dmitry A. (2025) Metamict fergusonite-(Y) and samarskite-(Y) from the Ilmeny mountains (South urals, Russia): secondary alterations and thermal annealing. Mineralogy and Petrology, 120 (1). 35-54 doi:10.1007/s00710-025-00954-w
Localities for Samarskite-(Y)
Showing 435 localities.
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Spinelli prospect, Glastonbury, Hartford County, Connecticut, USA