Gagarinite-(Y)
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Gagarinite-(Y)
Yurii Alexeevich Gagarin - the first man visited space.
Formula:
NaCaYF6
Colour:
Creamy, yellowish, pink.
Lustre:
Vitreous, Dull
Hardness:
4½
Specific Gravity:
4.11 - 4.29
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Name:
Originally named simply gagarinite in honor of Yuri Alexeevich Gagarin (9 March 1934, Klushino, Smolensk Oblast, Soviet Union - 27 March 1968, Novosyolovo, Soviet Union), cosmonaut and the first person in space. The suffix was added by the IMA in 1987 to denote the dominant rare earth element.
Y-analogue of gagarinite-(Ce) and CaY-analogue of polezhaevaite-(Ce).
Possibly isostructural with (or identical to?) UM1993-06-F:CaNaREEY.
Possibly isostructural with (or identical to?) UM1993-06-F:CaNaREEY.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1629
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1629:8
Similar Names
| Gagarinite | ||
| Gagarinite-(Ce) | A valid IMA mineral species | Na(REExCa1-x)(REEyCa1-y)F6 |
IMA Classification of Gagarinite-(Y)
Approved
First published:
1961
Classification of Gagarinite-(Y)
3.AB.35
3 : HALIDES
A : Simple halides, without H2O
B : M:X = 1:2
3 : HALIDES
A : Simple halides, without H2O
B : M:X = 1:2
11.5.6.1
11 : HALIDE COMPLEXES
5 : AmBX6
11 : HALIDE COMPLEXES
5 : AmBX6
8.7.4
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
7 : Halides of the rare earth metals
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
7 : Halides of the rare earth metals
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Gag-Y | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Gagarinite-(Y)
Vitreous, Dull
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Creamy, yellowish, pink.
Streak:
White
Hardness:
4½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=367 - 372 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
Distinct in one direction, prismatic
Distinct in one direction, prismatic
Density:
4.11 - 4.29 g/cm3 (Measured) 4.27 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Gagarinite-(Y)
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.472 - 1.475 nε = 1.490 - 1.493
2V:
Measured: 20°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.018
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Moderate (negative)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized uniaxial interference figure - the conoscopic
(convergent-light, Bertrand-lens-in) view, for a grain cut with the optic axis
centred and vertical. The coloured rings are isochromatics, computed with the
same physics as the Michel-Lévy bar above; the dark cross is the isogyre.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
Comments:
May be anomalously biaxial
Chemistry of Gagarinite-(Y)
Mindat Formula:
NaCaYF6
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Gagarinite-(Y)
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6/m - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P63/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.987(2) Å, c = 3.5413(7) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.591
Unit Cell V:
109.93 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
1
Morphology:
Short and long prismatic hexagonal crystals, irregular grains, aggregates
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0005407 | Gagarinite-(Y) | Hughes J M, Drexler J W (1994) Refinement of the structure of gagarinite-(Y), Nax(CaxREE2-x)F6 The Canadian Mineralogist 32 563-565 |  | 1994 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 1.717 Å | (100 broad) |
| 2.086 Å | (90) |
| 3.00 Å | (50) |
| 2.92 Å | (50) |
| 1.709 Å | (100) |
| 1.726 Å | (90) |
| 2.085 Å | (90) |
| 1.129 Å | (100 doublet) |
| 0.9967 Å | (80) |
| 2.980 Å | (70) |
| 1.012 Å | (70) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks |
Geological Setting:
In Na-metasomatized alkalic granites and syenites
Type Occurrence of Gagarinite-(Y)
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
1) Vernadsky Geological Museum, Moscow, Russia, 47307.
2) A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 62341–62343.
2) A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 62341–62343.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In albitized granites and associated quartz-microcline veins.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Gagarinite-(Y)
Gagarinite (in part)
Other Language Names for Gagarinite-(Y)
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 18 photos of Gagarinite-(Y) associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 9 photos of Gagarinite-(Y) associated with Bastnäsite-(Y) | Y(CO3)F |
| 9 photos of Gagarinite-(Y) associated with Thomsenolite | NaCa[AlF6] · H2O |
| 6 photos of Gagarinite-(Y) associated with Bastnäsite-(Ce) | Ce(CO3)F |
| 5 photos of Gagarinite-(Y) associated with Cryolite | Na2NaAlF6 |
| 5 photos of Gagarinite-(Y) associated with Aegirine | NaFe3+Si2O6 |
| 4 photos of Gagarinite-(Y) associated with 'Yttrofluorite' | (Ca1-xYx)F2+x where 0.05 < x < 0.3 |
| 4 photos of Gagarinite-(Y) associated with Annite | KFe2+3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 3 photos of Gagarinite-(Y) associated with Monazite-(Ce) | Ce(PO4) |
| 3 photos of Gagarinite-(Y) associated with Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 3.AB. | Manuelarossiite | PbCaAlF7 |
| 3.AB. | Fluorocronite | PbF2 |
| 3.AB.05 | Tolbachite | CuCl2 |
| 3.AB.10 | Coccinite | HgI2 |
| 3.AB.15 | Sellaite | MgF2 |
| 3.AB.20 | Lawrencite | (Fe2+,Ni)Cl2 |
| 3.AB.20 | Scacchite | MnCl2 |
| 3.AB.20 | Chloromagnesite | MgCl2 |
| 3.AB.25 | Fluorite | CaF2 |
| 3.AB.25 | Frankdicksonite | BaF2 |
| 3.AB.25 | Strontiofluorite | SrF2 |
| 3.AB.30 | Tveitite-(Y) | (Y, Na)6Ca6Ca6(Ca,Na)F42 |
| 3.AB.35 | Polezhaevaite-(Ce) | NaSrCeF6 |
| 3.AB.35 | Gagarinite-(Ce) | Na(REExCa1-x)(REEyCa1-y)F6 |
| 3.AB.37 | Calcioaravaipaite | PbCa2AlF9 |
| 3.AB.85 | Cotunnite | PbCl2 |
Fluorescence of Gagarinite-(Y)
Not fluorescent
Other Information
Thermal Behaviour:
Large endothermal break at 720-750 and a small exothermal break at about 900. When heated the mineral loses water and part of the fluorine above 500.
Notes:
Weakly magnetic
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:
Display Requirements:
Decomposed by water. Easily decomposed by HNO3, HCl, and concentrated H2SO4.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Gagarinite-(Y)
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1629.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Gagarinite-(Y)
Reference List:
Fleischer, Michael; Foster, Margaret D. (1962) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 47 (5-6). 805-812
IMA (1967) International Mineralogical Association: Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 36 (277) 131-136 doi:10.1180/minmag.1967.036.277.20
Nickel, Ernest H., Mandarino, Joseph A. (1987) Procedures involving the IMA Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names and guidelines on mineral nomenclature. American Mineralogist, 72 (9-10) 1031-1042
Localities for Gagarinite-(Y)
Showing 13 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Brazil | |
| Ren et al. (2024) |
| Bastos Neto et al. (2009) +4 other references | |
Canada | |
| Miller (1990) +6 other references | |
Kazakhstan (TL) | |
| Stepanov et al. (1961) +4 other references |
| |
Norway | |
| Sæbø (1966) +1 other reference |
Russia | |
| Bailey (1980) |
| Bailey (1980) |
| Seltmann et al. (2010) | |
| |
| Seltmann et al. (2010) +2 other references |
Saudi Arabia | |
| Küster (2009) |
USA | |
| Micro Probe Volume VI Number 8 +1 other reference |
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Gjerdingselva, Lunner, Akershus, Norway