The name is for the first two syllables of the name of the Yarlong Zangbo River, which is near the Luobusha ophiolite (also known as the Brahmaputra River).

Type Locality:

ⓘ Luobusha ophiolite ("Luobusa ophiolite"), Qusum Co. (Qusong Co.), Shannan Prefecture (Lhokha Prefecture; Lhoka Prefecture), Tibet, China

A supposed nitrogen-bearing variety is known from inclusions of some Brasilian diamonds.

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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

35899

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:35899:4

IMA Classification of YarlongiteHide

IMA status:

Approved

Approval year:

2007

First published:

2008

Type description reference:

Shi, N., Bai, W., Li, G., Xiong, M., Fang, Q., Yang, J., Ma, Z., Rong, H. (2008) Yarlongite: A new metallic carbide mineral. Acta Geologica Sinica: 83(1): 52-56.

Classification of YarlongiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):

1.BA.30

1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
B : Metallic Carbides, Silicides, Nitrides, Phosphides and Hydrides
A : Carbides

Dana 8th ed.:

1.1.25.3

1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
1 : Metals, other than the Platinum Group

Mineral SymbolsHide

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
Ylg	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 YarlongiteHide

Lustre:

Metallic

Transparency:

Opaque

Colour:

Steel-grey

Streak:

Black

Hardness:

5½ - 6 on Mohs scale

Tenacity:

Brittle

Cleavage:

Perfect
{001}

Fracture:

Conchoidal

Density:

7.19 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of YarlongiteHide

Anisotropism:

Medium

Bireflectance:

None

Reflectivity:

Wavelength	R₁ (%)
400nm	42.9%
420nm	39.2%
440nm	40.0%
460nm	42.9%
470nm	42.7%
480nm	42.6%
500nm	43.1%
520nm	45.7%
540nm	45.8%
546nm	46.7%
560nm	47.6%
580nm	47.0%
589nm	48.6%
600nm	50.2%
620nm	52.8%
640nm	49.7%
650nm	51.1%
660nm	51.1%
680nm	54.9%
700nm	51.6%

Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 54.9%.

Colour in reflected light:

Greyish white

Internal Reflections:

None

Pleochroism:

Non-pleochroic

Chemistry of YarlongiteHide

Mindat Formula:

Cr₄Fe₄NiC₄

Element Weights:

Element	% weight
Fe	41.513 %
Cr	38.652 %
Ni	10.908 %
C	8.928 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Elements listed:

C, Cr, Fe, Ni - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of YarlongiteHide

Crystal System:

Hexagonal

Class (H-M):

6mm - Dihexagonal Pyramidal

Space Group:

P6₃mc

Cell Parameters:

a = 18.839(2) Å, c = 4.4960(9) Å

Ratio:

a:c = 1 : 0.239

Unit Cell V:

1,381.89 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Crystal StructureHide

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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure

ID	Species	Reference	Link	Year	Locality	Pressure (GPa)	Temp (K)
0019976	Yarlongite	Shi N, Ma Z, Xiong M, Dai M, Bai W, Fang Q, Yan B, Yang J (2005) The crystal structure of (Fe4Cr4Ni)9C4 Science in China 48 338-345		2005	Luobusha ophiolite, Tibet	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Yarlongite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Shi N'
'Ma Z'
'Xiong M'
'Dai M'
'Bai W'
'Fang Q'
'Yan B'
'Yang J'
_journal_name_full 'Science in China'
_journal_volume 48 
_journal_year 2005
_journal_page_first 338
_journal_page_last 345
_publ_section_title
;
 The crystal structure of (Fe4Cr4Ni)9C4
;
_database_code_amcsd 0019976
_chemical_compound_source 'Luobusha ophiolite, Tibet'
_chemical_formula_sum 'Cr11.515 Fe12.355 Ni2.867 C13.117'
_cell_length_a 13.839
_cell_length_b 13.839
_cell_length_c 4.4960
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 90
_cell_angle_gamma 120
_cell_volume 745.704
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      7.190
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'P 63 m c'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  '-x,-x+y,1/2+z'
  'x-y,x,1/2+z'
  '-y,-x,z'
  '-y,x-y,z'
  'x-y,-y,1/2+z'
  '-x,-y,1/2+z'
  'x,x-y,z'
  '-x+y,-x,z'
  'y,x,1/2+z'
  'y,-x+y,1/2+z'
  '-x+y,y,z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_occupancy
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
Cr1   0.12260   0.06130   0.60600   1.00000   0.00800
Cr2   0.43840   0.87670  -0.01600   0.93320   0.00100
Cr3   0.43920   0.06220  -0.02190   0.95250   0.00200
Fe4   0.33290   0.16650   0.79640   0.95420   0.00200
Fe5   0.33333   0.66667   0.81110   0.96600   0.00600
Fe6   0.22810   0.95570   0.78990   1.00000   0.00700
Fe7   0.22740   0.77260   0.80630   0.84200   0.00100
Ni8   0.27260   0.72740   0.30490   0.95560   0.00500
C1   0.39470   0.09480  -0.43100   0.85280   0.01100
C2   0.40060   0.80100   0.56800   1.00000   0.01700
C3   0.18500   0.09260   0.01200   1.00000   0.00500

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
6.920 Å	(100)
4.530 Å	(35)
3.596 Å	(55)
2.493 Å	(36)
2.023 Å	(98)
1.998 Å	(32)
1.825 Å	(47)
1.798 Å	(54)
2.105 Å	(50)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Stage 5: Initiation of plate tectonics	<3.5-2.5
38 : Ophiolites

Type Occurrence of YarlongiteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Luobusha ophiolite ("Luobusa ophiolite"), Qusum Co. (Qusong Co.), Shannan Prefecture (Lhokha Prefecture; Lhoka Prefecture), Tibet, China

General Appearance of Type Material:

Irregular grains, with a size between 0.02 and 0.06 mm.

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Geological Museum of China (No. M11650).

Geological Setting of Type Material:

Podiform chromitites of the Luobusha ophiolite.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Chromite	Native Chromium	Diamond	Forsterite	Native Iron
Moissanite	Native Nickel	'Osmiridium'	Native Osmium	Periclase
Wüstite

Reference:

Shi, N., Bai, W., Li, G., Xiong, M., Fang, Q., Yang, J., Ma, Z., Rong, H. (2008) Yarlongite: A new metallic carbide mineral. Acta Geologica Sinica: 83(1): 52-56.

Synonyms of YarlongiteHide

IMA2007-035

Other Language Names for YarlongiteHide

Dutch:Yarlongiet

German:Yarlongit

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:

3 photos of Yarlongite associated with Native Titanium

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

1.BA.05	Cohenite	Fe₃C	Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
1.BA.10	Haxonite	NiFe₂₂C₆	Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
1.BA.10	Isovite	(Cr,Fe)₂₃C₆	Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
1.BA.15	Tongbaite	Cr₃C₂	Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
1.BA.20	Niobocarbide	(Nb,Ta)C	Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
1.BA.20	Khamrabaevite	(Ti,V,Fe)C	Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
1.BA.20	Tantalcarbide	TaC	Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fm3m
1.BA.25	Qusongite	WC	Hex. 6m2 : P6m2
1.BA.25	Zoyashlyukovaite	MoC	Hex. 6m2 : P6m2
1.BA.35	Edscottite	Fe₅C₂	Mon. 2/m : B2/b

Fluorescence of YarlongiteHide

In UV light:

none

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:

No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for YarlongiteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-35899.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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External Links:

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Look for Yarlongite on Mineralien Atlas

Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

Mineral Dealers:

Buy from D. Joyce minerals

References for YarlongiteHide

Reference List:

Shi Nicheng, Ma Zhesheng, Xiong Ming, Dai Mingquan, Bai Wenji, Fang Qingsong, Yan Binggang, and Yang Jingsui (2005) The crystal structure of (Fe4Cr4Ni)9C4. Science in China, Series D (Earth Sciences): 48(3): 338-345.

Shi, N., Bai, W., Li, G., Xiong, M., Fang, Q., Yang, J., Ma, Z., Rong, H. (2008) Yarlongite: A new metallic carbide mineral. Acta Geologica Sinica: 83(1): 52-56.

Kaminsky, Felix V.; Wirth, Richard; Schreiber, Anja (2015) A microinclusion of lower-mantle rock and other minerals and nitrogen lower mantle inclusions in a diamond. The Canadian Mineralogist, 53 (1). 83-104 doi:10.3749/canmin.1400070

(2022) Yarlongite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for YarlongiteHide

Showing 3 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the

symbol to view information about a locality. The

symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

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Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed.

- This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.

- Good crystals or important locality for species.

- World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). ~~Struck out~~ - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.


Brazil
Mato Grosso Juína Sorriso river ⓘ Chicória farm ?	Kaminsky et al. (2015)

China (TL)
Tibet Shannan Prefecture (Lhokha Prefecture; Lhoka Prefecture) Qusum Co. (Qusong Co.) ⓘ Luobusha ophiolite ("Luobusa ophiolite") (TL)	Shi Nicheng et al. (2005)
Luobusha Mine ("Luobusa" Mine) ⓘ Orebody 31 (Chromite deposit 31)	Li et al. (2009)

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Yarlongite

Unique IdentifiersHide

IMA Classification of YarlongiteHide

Classification of YarlongiteHide

Mineral SymbolsHide

Physical Properties of YarlongiteHide

Optical Data of YarlongiteHide

Chemistry of YarlongiteHide

Crystallography of YarlongiteHide

Crystal StructureHide

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of YarlongiteHide

Synonyms of YarlongiteHide

Other Language Names for YarlongiteHide

Common AssociatesHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

Fluorescence of YarlongiteHide

Other InformationHide

Internet Links for YarlongiteHide

References for YarlongiteHide

Localities for YarlongiteHide

Locality ListHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide