Xenotime-(Yb)
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Xenotime-(Yb)
Formula:
Yb(PO4)
Colour:
Colourless to yellow, light brown
Lustre:
Vitreous
Specific Gravity:
5.85 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Member of:
Name:
Named after its composition and relationship with xenotime-(Y). The suffix/modifier follows the Levinson rule for minerals with essential REE, indicating a predominance of ytterbium.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
7374
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:7374:1
Similar Names
| Xenotime | A group of related mineral species | |
| Xenotime-(Gd) | A valid IMA mineral species | Gd(PO4) |
| Xenotime-(Y) | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | Y(PO4) |
IMA Classification of Xenotime-(Yb)
Approved
IMA Formula:
Yb3+PO4
Approval year:
1998
First published:
1999
Classification of Xenotime-(Yb)
8.AD.35
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Xtm-Yb | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Xtm | Siivolam & Schmid (2007) | Siivolam, J. and Schmid, R. (2007) Recommendations by the IUGS Subcommission on the Systematics of Metamorphic Rocks: List of mineral abbreviations. Web-version 01.02.07. IUGS Commission on the Systematics in Petrology. download |
| Xtm | Whitney & Evans (2010) | Whitney, D.L. and Evans, B.W. (2010) Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 95, 185–187 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3371 |
| Xnt | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Xenotime-(Yb)
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colourless to yellow, light brown
Streak:
White
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
5.85 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Could not be measured due to small grain size.
Optical Data of Xenotime-(Yb)
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.715(3) nε = 1.802(5)
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.087
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Xenotime-(Yb)
Mindat Formula:
Yb(PO4)
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Xenotime-(Yb)
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
I41/amd
Setting:
I41/amd
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.866(2) Å, c = 6.004(3) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.874
Unit Cell V:
283.04 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
isolated ~20 μm grains and in aggregates to 50 μm.
Crystal Structure
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0001712 | Xenotime-(Yb) | Ni Y, Hughes J M, Mariano A N (1995) Crystal chemistry of the monazite and xenotime structures Yb(PO4) American Mineralogist 80 21-26 |  | 1995 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.437 Å | (100) |
| 2.556 Å | (80) |
| 4.515 Å | (70) |
| 1.760 Å | (50) |
| 2.730 Å | (30) |
| 2.138 Å | (30) |
| 2.430 Å | (20) |
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 | |
| 35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks |
Type Occurrence of Xenotime-(Yb)
General Appearance of Type Material:
Granular aggregates <= 50 µm across and as isolated small (~20 µm) grains encased in clots of ferrian muscovite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
R.B. Ferguson Museum of Mineralogy, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Manitoba (M699S - M7001) and Department of Earth Sciences, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Niobium-yttrium-fluorine (NYF) family of rare-element granitic pegmatite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Xenotime-(Yb)
Other Language Names for Xenotime-(Yb)
Dutch:Xenotime-(Yb)
German:Xenotim-(Yb)
Japanese:イッテルビウムゼノタイム
Russian:Ксенотим-(Yb)
Simplified Chinese:磷镱矿
Relationship of Xenotime-(Yb) to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Xenotime:
| Xenotime-(Gd) | Gd(PO4) | Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I41/amd |
| Xenotime-(Y) | Y(PO4) | Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I41/amd |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 2 photos of Xenotime-(Yb) associated with Monazite-(Ce) | Ce(PO4) |
| 2 photos of Xenotime-(Yb) associated with Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 2 photos of Xenotime-(Yb) associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 1 photo of Xenotime-(Yb) associated with Uraninite | UO2 |
| 1 photo of Xenotime-(Yb) associated with Uranophane | Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O |
| 1 photo of Xenotime-(Yb) associated with 'Hafnian Zircon' | (Zr,Hf)SiO4 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.AD. | 'Unnamed (Monoclinic polymorph of ximengite)' | Bi(PO4) |
| 8.AD. | Keplerite | Ca9(Ca0.5◻0.5)Mg(PO4)7 |
| 8.AD. | Mazorite | Ba3(PO4)2 |
| 8.AD. | Deynekoite | Ca9◻Fe3+(PO4)7 |
| 8.AD. | Monazite-(Gd) | Gd(PO4) |
| 8.AD.05 | Nahpoite | Na2(PO3OH) |
| 8.AD.10 | Weilite | Ca(HAsO4) |
| 8.AD.10 | Švenekite | Ca(H2AsO4)2 |
| 8.AD.10 | Monetite | Ca(PO3OH) |
| 8.AD.15 | Archerite | (K,NH4)(H2PO4) |
| 8.AD.15 | Biphosphammite | NH4(H2PO4) |
| 8.AD.20 | Phosphammite | (NH4)2(PO3OH) |
| 8.AD.25 | Buchwaldite | NaCa(PO4) |
| 8.AD.30 | Schulténite | Pb(HAsO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Dreyerite | Bi(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Wakefieldite-(La) | La(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Anningite-(Ce) | (Ca0.5Ce4+0.5)(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Pretulite | Sc(PO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Wakefieldite-(Ce) | Ce(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Wakefieldite-(Y) | Y(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | 'Chernovite-(Ce)' | (Ce,Y)(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Xenotime-(Gd) | Gd(PO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Chernovite-(Y) | Y(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Xenotime-(Y) | Y(PO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Wakefieldite-(Nd) | Nd(VO4) |
| 8.AD.40 | Pucherite | Bi(VO4) |
| 8.AD.45 | Ximengite | Bi(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | 'UM2005-35-VO:CaFePSiTh' | (Th,Ca)(VO4,SiO4,PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Rooseveltite | Bi(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Gasparite-(Ce) | Ce(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Monazite-(Sm) | Sm(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Monazite-(Ce) | Ce(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Monazite-(La) | La(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Monazite-(Nd) | Nd(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Gasparite-(La) | La(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Cheralite | CaTh(PO4)2 |
| 8.AD.55 | Tetrarooseveltite | Bi(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.60 | Chursinite | [Hg2]2+Hg2+2[AsO4]2 |
| 8.AD.65 | Clinobisvanite | Bi(VO4) |
| 8.AD.70 | Gurimite | Ba3(VO4)2 |
| 8.AD.75 | Picaite | NaCa[AsO3OH][AsO2(OH)2] |
Other Information
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 Xenotime-(Yb)
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-7374.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Xenotime-(Yb)
Localities for Xenotime-(Yb)
Showing 8 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Canada (TL) | |
| Buck et al. (1999) |
China | |
| Shi et al. (2024) |
| Shi et al. (2024) |
| Wang et al. (2025) |
Norway | |
| Husdal (2008) |
Russia | |
| A.V. Voloshin data |
| Sklyarov et al. (2016) |
USA | |
| Self-collected by Franklin Roberts. |
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Håkonhals Quarry, Finnøya, Hamarøy, Nordland, Norway