Mineralpedia Details for Bastnasite-(Y)
Bastnasite-(Y)
Named as a member of the bastnasite species which are in turn named for the original locality at the Bastnas mines in Vastmanland, Sweden and for the dominance of yttrium over the other rare earth elements in the composition. Basnasite-Y is a rare mineral that occurs as a secondary mineral in a microcline-quartz pegmatite vein at the type locality in the Verkhnee Espe Massif in Kazakhstan. Additional localities include in South Korea, Germany, China, and Tajikistan.
Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/bastnasite-(Y).pdf
- Formula
- YCO3F
- Crystal System
- Hexagonal
- Crystal Habit
- Prismatic, Massive - Granular
- Cleavage
- Imperfect, Indistinct, None
- Luster
- Vitreous - Greasy
- Color
- yellow, reddish brown
- Streak
- white
- Class
- Hexagonal - Ditrigonal Dipyramidal
- Fracture
- Uneven
- Hardness
- 4-4.5
- WebMineral
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Bastnasite-(Y) from Verkhnee Espe, Tarbagatai Range, E. Kazakhstan, Russia
Reddish replacements of rare Bastnasite - (Y) after Gagarinite - (Y) in quartz from alkaline pegmatites. Identified by Dr. Igor Pekov. Very rare worldwide.
Click thumbnail images for larger view.
