Thortveitite

Thortveitite is a mineral consisting of scandium yttrium silicate (Sc,Y)2Si2O7. It is the primary source of scandium. Occurrence is in granitic pegmatites. It was named after Olaus Thortveit, a Norwegian engineer. It is grayish-green, black or gray in color.

Thortveitite
Thortveitite
General
CategoryMineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
(Sc,Y)2Si2O7
Strunz classification9.BC.05
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal classPrismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)
Space groupC2/m
Identification
Mohs scale hardness5-6
Lustervitreous
Streakgray
Specific gravity3.3-3.8

A transparent gem quality example was found in 2004, and reported in "The Journal of Gemmology", 2008 Volume 31.

The mineral is actually a uniform mixture of oxides of silicon, scandium, and yttrium. It isn't a true compound in itself.

See also

References

    • Webmineral
    • Mindat
    • Riccardo Bianchi; Tullio Pilati; Valeria Diella; Carlo Maria Gramaccioli & Gregorio Mannucci (1988). "A re-examination of thortveitite" (PDF). American Mineralogist. 73: 5–6.
    • Schumann, Walter (1991). Mineralien aus aller Welt. BLV Bestimmungsbuch (2 ed.). p. 223. ISBN 3-405-14003-X.


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