Use. Euxenite is used as an ore of the rare earth elements it contains. Rare large crystals have also been used in jewelry.

Is euxenite radioactive?

Euxenite is a mineral that is mildly radioactive should be kept away from other gems and minerals which can be subject to harm from radioactivity and of course human exposure must certanly be limited!

Where is xenotime found?

Occurring as a minor accessory mineral, xenotime is found in pegmatites and other igneous rocks, as well as gneisses rich in mica and quartz.

What is columbite ore?

Columbite, also called niobite, niobite-tantalite and columbate [(Fe, Mn)Nb. 2O. 6], is a black mineral group that is an ore of niobium. It has a submetallic luster and a high density and is a niobate of iron and manganese. This mineral group was first found in Haddam, Connecticut, in the United States.

Where can Euxenite be found?

These minerals are widespread in Norway, Madagascar, and Canada and also occur in Sweden, Finland, Greenland, Australia, Brazil, and the U.S. For chemical formula and detailed physical properties, see oxide mineral (table).

What type of rock is monazite?

Monazite is a rare phosphate mineral with a chemical composition of (Ce,La,Nd,Th)(PO4,SiO4). It usually occurs in small isolated grains, as an accessory mineral in igneous and metamorphic rocks such as granite, pegmatite, schist, and gneiss.

What is pyrochlore structure?

Pyrochlores are ceramics with the cubic fluorite-type structure, and the general chemical formula A2B2O7, where A is a 3+ cation (La3+, Nd3+, Gd3+, Sm3+, Y3+) B is a 4+ cation (e.g., Zr4+, Ti4+, Mo4+), and 1/8th of the oxygen positions are vacant. From: Encyclopedia of Electrochemical Power Sources, 2009.

What is the chemical composition of fluorite?

Fluorite (CaF2)

PubChem CID 24617
Molecular Formula CaF2
Synonyms Fluorite Calcium difluoride Fluorite (CaF2) Fluorspar Calcium fluoratum More…
Molecular Weight 78.07
Component Compounds CID 14917 (Hydrofluoric acid) CID 5460341 (Calcium)

Is xenotime a mineral?

xenotime, widely distributed phosphate mineral, yttrium phosphate (YPO4), though large proportions of erbium commonly replace yttrium), that occurs as brown, glassy crystals, crystal aggregates, or rosettes in igneous rocks and associated pegmatites, in quartzose and micaceous gneiss, and commonly in detrital material.

What is the meaning of xenotime?

: a mineral YPO4 that is a phosphate of yttrium occurring in usually brown or yellow tetragonal crystals and rolled grains and that often also contains thorium, erbium, cerium, or other elements (hardness 45, specific gravity 4.454.56)

Does scheelite glow?

Scheelite’s intense fluorescence under SW UV light and X-rays can help distinguish it from other stones of similar appearance. Although they typically glow an intense bluish white or whitish blue, scheelites that contain some Mo can fluoresce a creamy yellow in SW.

What is columbite used for?

Columbite-tantalite group is a mineral used widely in technology. Electronics, automotive systems and health products like the pacemaker need this mineral to operate. It is mined in Africa and has earned the name of Coltan over the last few years.

How much is coltan worth?

1kg costs around $100, but prices have historically been as high as $600 per kg. A Congolese Coltan miner can earn up to $200 per month.

Is columbite a conflict mineral?

Conflict minerals, as defined by the US legislation, currently include the metals tantalum, tin, tungsten and gold, which are the extracts of the minerals cassiterite, columbite-tantalite and wolframite, respectively.

What is the rarest ore on Earth?

Painite Painite : Not just the rarest gemstone, but also the rarest mineral on earth, Painite holds the Guinness World Record for it. After its discovery in the year 1951, there existed only 2 specimens of Painite for the next many decades. By the year 2004, there were less than 2 dozens known gemstones.

Who discovered monazite?

Carl Auer von Welsbach Mining history Monazite sand from Brazil was first noticed in sand carried in ship’s ballast by Carl Auer von Welsbach in the 1880s. Von Welsbach was looking for thorium for his newly invented incandescent mantles.

How is monazite processed?

Monazite and xenotime ores are treated essentially the same way, since both are phosphate minerals. … In the basic process, finely ground monazite or xenotime is mixed with a 70 percent sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution and held in an autoclave at 140150 C (284302 F) for several hours.

What is pyrochlore used for?

Pyrochlores are an important class of materials in diverse technological applications such as luminescence, ionic conductivity, nuclear waste immobilization, high temperature thermal barrier coatings, automobile exhaust gas control, catalysts, solid oxide fuel cell, ionic/electrical conductors etc.

Is fluorite an FCC?

In solid state chemistry, the fluorite structure refers to a common motif for compounds with the formula MX2. The X ions occupy the eight tetrahedral interstitial sites whereas M ions occupy the regular sites of a face-centered cubic (FCC) structure.

What is pyrochlore lattice?

A pyrochlore lattice is a three-dimensional network of corner-sharing tetrahedra. Crystals with a pyrochlore lattice formed from the atoms of a transition metal give rise to a rich variety of condensed phases and novel phenomena caused by geometrical frustration.

What is the rarest color of fluorite?

Blue fluorite is quite rare and collectors are looking for it. The brilliant yellow is very rare as well. Pink, black and colorless are the rarest fluorite colors.

How can you tell if fluorite is real?

Real fluorite glows under ultraviolet light. Fluorite hardness is very low, so there will be a lot of tiny scratches on the surface of real fluorite. Fake fluorite is mostly represented by glass or plastic. Fake fluorite made of glass can have bubbles and doesn’t glow under UV light.

What are the healing properties of rainbow fluorite?

Common Healing Properties of Rainbow Fluorite:

What is the fracture of turquoise?

conchoidal Its streak is a pale bluish white and its fracture is conchoidal, leaving a waxy lustre. Despite its low hardness relative to other gems, turquoise takes a good polish. Turquoise may also be peppered with flecks of pyrite or interspersed with dark, spidery limonite veining.

How is serpentinite rock formed?

The serpentinite is formed by the hydrous alteration and low-temperature metamorphic alteration of igneous ultramafic rocks. These rocks are composed of olivine and pyroxene in different ratios to form peridotite and pyroxenite.

What is the hardness of barite?

3.0 to 3.5 The chemical formula for barite is BaSO4. It has a high specific gravity of 4.50 g/cm3. Its Mohs hardness is 3.0 to 3.5. Barite, which may be found in a variety of colors including yellow, brown, white, blue, gray, or even colorless, typically has a vitreous to pearly luster.