Colorado Rare Earth Minerals Options

[MikeS]

What time is it?.... IT'S XENOTIME!!!

While we were diggin on the claim on Monday, my longtime friend (and co-owner) was getting into a nice pocket of gemmy smokies when he found a odd crystal we had never seen before. We suspected Zircon because of the crystal shape and it felt very heavy. After a specific gravity test it appears to be Xenotime. It is also on the heavy side of Xenotime which would suggest that the Yttrium in it has been replaced with a heavier mineral/element like Uranium or Thorite. It may have mild radioactivity. If I get the chance to test it for radiation I'll post results. If your wondering how to pronounce Xenotime here is a link with audio: Oxford Dictionaries





The crew and I just before the rare find. (I'm on the left)

[Dave S.]

Some more INFO that I DO KNOW:

Xenotime-(Y) is a Yttrium Phosphate Y(PO4)
Gravity range (4.4 -5.1)
Mohs hardness (4 - 5) between fluorite and apatite


Florencite-(Ce) is an Anhydrous Phosphate of Cerium CeAl3(PO4)2(OH6)
Gravity range (3.457 - 3.71)
Mohs hardness (5 - 6) between apatite and feldspars