Samarskite-(Y)

Unknown Owner

Samarskite-(Y) is an important rare earth element (REE)-bearing mineral species somewhat ironically named due to the discovery of the REE samarium which typically only makes up 0.3 % of this mineral. Infact, there are only three samarium-dominant species known to science: Monazite-(Sm); Florencite-(Sm); Allanite-(Sm). Samarskite-(Y), like many other REE-bearing minerals, is not excessively rare on a world scale, but its rarity comes in that it rarely forms large crystals. This excellent miniature specimen from the famous Evje og Hornnes municipality in Agder, southeast Norway, features several crystals of dark brown bladed Samarskite-(Y). The largest, and most complete, of these is a 1.6 cm long flat crystal rising up from the top of the specimen. This crystal is slightly metamict, in that parts of its internal structure have been infilled with Feldspar, but it still displays excellent overall form. Other, smaller, bladed crystals are only seen in cross-section. This is a very fine example of this unusual REE-bearing species from Norway. Ex Martin and Michael Günther (1951-2007 & 1956-2021) collection.