Synchysite-(Y)
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Synchysite-(Y) is named from the Greek word σύγχΰσις (synchys) meaning confounding in allusion to its initially being mistaken for Parisite, and the "-(Y)" suffix due to the dominance of yttrium in the composition.

Discovered in 1951; IMA status: Valid (IMA Approved 1966)

Chemistry

Chemical Formula:

Ca(Y,Ce)(CO₃)₂F

Calcium Yttrium Cerium Carbonate Fluoride

Molecular Weight:

268.00 gm

Composition:

Calcium

14.95 %

Ca

20.92 %

CaO

Yttrium

33.17 %

Y

42.13 %

Y₂O₃

Carbon

8.96 %

C

32.84 %

CO₂

Oxygen

35.82 %

O

Fluorine

7.09 %

F

7.09 %

F

—

 —  %

F

-O=F₂

100.00 %

100.00 %

= TOTAL OXIDE

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Carbonates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

5/C.07-100

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

5.BD.20c

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
B : Carbonates with additional anions, without H₂O
D : With rare earth elements (REE)

Related to:

Synchysite Group. Y analogue of Synchysite-(Ce) and Synchysite-(Nd).

Members of Group:

Synchysite Group: Huanghoite-(Ce), Synchysite-(Ce), Synchysite-(Nd), Synchysite-(Y)

Varieties:

None

Synonyms:

Doverite, Synchisite-(Y)

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Monoclinic - Prismatic

Crystal Habit:

Crystals acute rhombohedral with small {0001}, or thick tabular {0001} and hemimorphic (ditrigonal-pyramidal). {0001} smooth and brilliant; lateral faces striated horizontally; crystals to 0.2 mm; typically in very fine-grained aggregates. 

Twinning:

On {0001} common also lamellar

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

Parting on {0001}

Fracture:

Splintery, sub-conchoidal

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

~4.5

Density:

3.90 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Other:

Rather easily soluble in acids.

Optical Properties

Color:

Red-brown, pale yellow, pale pink, colorless

Transparency:

Transparent to translucent, opaque

Luster:

Sub-adamantine, vitreous, greasy

Refractive Index:

1.643 - 1.740  Uniaxial ( + )

Birefringence:

0.077

Dispersion:

Relatively strong

Pleochroism:

Weak; absorption E greater than O

Occurances

Geological Setting:

A rare hydrothermal accessory mineral in alkalic granites and granite pegmatites.

Common Associations:

Kainosite, Bastnäsite, Xenotime, Hematite, Quartz (Dover, New Jersey, USA).

Common Impurities:

n/a

Type Locality:

Scrub Oaks iron Mine, Mine Hill, 4 km west of Dover, Morris County, New Jersey, USA

Year Discovered:

1960

View mineral photos:

Synchysite-(Y) Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Synchysite-(Y) is a rare calcium yttrium cerium carbonate fluoride mineral. The mineral Synchysite is actually divided into three distinct minerals based on their respective dominant rare earth element; Synchysite-(Ce) with cerium, Synchysite-(Nd) with neodymium and Synchysite-(Y) with yttrium. Most Synchysite is Synchysite-(Y). Synchysite-(Y) occurs as translucent to opaque brownish-recl aggregates in association with Xenotime, Hematite, and Quartz.

Synchysite was originally discovered in 1894, but Synchysite-(Y) was discovered in 1951 at the Scrub Oaks iron Mine, Mine Hill, 4 km west of Dover, Morris County, New Jersey, USA. At that time it was thought to be a possible new yttrium fluorocarbonate mineral and was named Doverite after the nearby town. It was later determined to be a yttrium dominant variety of Synchysite and IMA approved in 1966. Synchysite-(Y) is named from the Greek word σύγχΰσις (synchys) meaning confounding in allusion to its initially being mistaken for Parisite, and the "-(Y)" suffix due to the dominance of yttrium in the composition. One of the main sources of Synchysite-(Y) is at the White Cloud pegmatite, South Platte district, Jefferson County, Colorado, USA.

Synchysite-(Y) distribution: in the USA, from the Scrub Oaks iron mine, Mine Hill, 4 km west of Dover, Morris Co., New Jersey; at the Henry pegmatite, near Cotopaxi, Fremont County, and the Big Bertha and White Cloud pegmatites, South Platte district, Jefferson County, Colorado; from Rib Mountain, Marathon County, Wisconsin. In the Evans-Lou quarry, near Wakefield, Quebec, Canada. Around Gallt y Wenallt, Gwynedd, Wales. On the west flank of Cherbadung [Pizzo Cervandone], Binntal, Valais, Switzerland. At Bad Grund, Harz Mountains, Germany. Crystallized in the Bantyshevo salt stock, Dnieper-Donets Basin, Ukraine. From the Jabal Sa’id pegmatite, central Saudi Arabia. At Xiaocaidan, Qinghai Province, China.
 

  
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