Best viewed using Adobe Flash Player (8 or higher).
Download hereGENERAL DESCRIPTION
Kainosite-(Y) is a rare hydrated carbonato-silicate of calcium, yttrium and cerium, only found in the granitic pegmatites and the alkaline rocks complexes (enriched in sodium and/or potassium). This variety of kainosite is richer in yttrium (Y) than the others kainosites.
It is presented either in the form of small prismatic crystals or in the form of radial aggregates. This mineral has a vitreous luster and is colourless to yellow-orange. The crystals are generally of small size and very seldomly exceeding 2 cm.
The principal deposits of kainosite-(Y) are located in the area of Vest-Agder, Norway (its type-locality) and in the USA, in the state of Washington. Crystals reaching 2 cm arise from the Grisons in Switzerland.
In France, it was recently discovered close of the glacier of Invernet (Sainte Foy, Tarentaise) in Savoy.
The type of this species is kept at the Naturhistorik Museum, the University of Oslo in Norway.
HISTORY : Name inspired from the Greek word "καινουργιοσ" [kainourgios] that means "strange", in reference to its rarity and its uncommon composition
Species first described in 1886 by Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld (1832-1901), Finnish geologist and mineralogist
Type-locality : Pegmatite of Igeltjern, Hittero island, Flekkfjord, Norway
CHEMICAL FORMULA : Ca2 (Y,Ce)2 Si4O12 (CO3) H2O
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Orthorhombic
COLOR : Colorless, white, yellow, brown
DIAPHANIETY : Transparent to translucent
LUSTER : Vitreous to resineous
STREAK : Pale brown
MORPHOLOGIE : As small prismatic crystals, radial aggregates
HARDNESS : 5,0-6,0
CHEMICAL CLASS: 3,542
DENSITY : VIII - Silicates
GROUP : Kainosite - phosinaite series
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 8/E.9-10
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 9.CF.05
