Known synthetic analogue. The Y analogue of oskarssonite.

Orthorhombic - unlike the related, trigonal REE fluorides fluocerite-(Ce) and fluocerite-(La).

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

46049

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:46049:3

GUID
(UUID V4):

d9458b62-853c-437e-b3f7-654f2ed498ae

IMA Classification of Waimirite-(Y)Hide

IMA status:

Approved

Approval year:

2013

First published:

2015

Type description reference:

Atencio, D., Bastos Neto, A.C., Pereira, V.P., Ferron, J.T.M.M., Hoshino, M., Moriyama, T., Watanabe, Y., Miyawaki, R., Coutinho, J.M.V., Andrade, M.B., Domanik, K., Chukanov, N.V., Momma, K., Hirano, H., Tsunematsu, M. (2015) Waimirite-(Y), orthorhombic YF3, a new mineral from the Pitinga mine, Presidente Figueiredo, Amazonas, Brazil and from Jabal Tawlah, Saudi Arabia: description and crystal structure. Mineralogical Magazine: 79: 767-780.

Classification of Waimirite-(Y)Hide

Strunz-mindat (2024):

3.A0.

3 : HALIDES
A : Simple halides, without H₂O
0 :

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Symbol	Source	Reference
Wai-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 Waimirite-(Y)Hide

Lustre:

Vitreous

Transparency:

Transparent, Translucent

Comment:

Non-metallic

Colour:

Pale pink, colorless

Streak:

White

Hardness:

5½ - 6 on Mohs scale

Hardness:

VHN₁₀₀=667 - 786 kg/mm² - Vickers

Tenacity:

Brittle

Cleavage:

None Observed
Synthetic YF3 displays perfect cleavage on {010}

Parting:

None observed

Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal

Density:

5.586 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of Waimirite-(Y)Hide

Type:

Biaxial (+)

Comments:

Mean refractive index was measured as 1.54-1.56 (Brazil) and 1.6 (Saudi Arabia)

Chemistry of Waimirite-(Y)Hide

Mindat Formula:

YF₃

Elements listed:

F, Y - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of Waimirite-(Y)Hide

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic

Class (H-M):

mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal

Space Group:

Pnma

Setting:

Pnma

Cell Parameters:

a = 6.386(1) Å, b = 6.877(1) Å, c = 4.401(1) Å

Ratio:

a:b:c = 0.929 : 1 : 0.64

Unit Cell V:

193.28 Å³

Morphology:

Massive aggregates of platy crystals up to ~1 μm in size. Forms are not determined on natural specimens, but synthetic YF3 displays pinacoids, prisms and bipyramids.

Crystal StructureHide

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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)
0020020	Waimirite-(Y)	Cheetham A K, Norman N (1974) The structures of yttrium and bismuth trifluorides by neutron diffraction Acta Chemica Scandinavica A28 55-60		1974	synthetic	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Waimirite-(Y)'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Cheetham A K'
'Norman N'
_journal_name_full 'Acta Chemica Scandinavica'
_journal_volume A28 
_journal_year 1974
_journal_page_first 55
_journal_page_last 60
_publ_section_title
;
 The structures of yttrium and bismuth trifluorides by neutron diffraction
;
_database_code_amcsd 0020020
_chemical_compound_source 'Synthetic'
_chemical_formula_sum 'Y F3'
_cell_length_a 6.3537
_cell_length_b 6.8545
_cell_length_c 4.3953
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 90
_cell_angle_gamma 90
_cell_volume 191.422
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      5.063
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'P n m a'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  'x,1/2-y,z'
  '-x,1/2+y,-z'
  '1/2-x,1/2+y,1/2+z'
  '1/2+x,1/2-y,1/2-z'
  '1/2+x,y,1/2-z'
  '1/2-x,-y,1/2+z'
  '-x,-y,-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
Y   0.36730   0.25000   0.05910   0.00469
F1   0.52270   0.25000   0.59100   0.01127
F2   0.16520   0.06430   0.37550   0.00722

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
3.707 Å	(26)
3.623 Å	(78)
3.438 Å	(99)
3.205 Å	(100)
2.894 Å	(59)
1.937 Å	(33)
1.916 Å	(24)
1.862 Å	(27)

Comments:

From Type Description.

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Near-surface Processes
23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47)

Type Occurrence of Waimirite-(Y)Hide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Pitinga mine, Presidente Figueiredo, Amazonas, Brazil

General Appearance of Type Material:

Massive aggregates of platy crystals up to ~1 μm in size

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Type material is deposited in the collections of the Museu de Geociências, Instituto de Geociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, specimen number DR919, and the Museu de Mineralogia Luiz Englert, Departamento de Mineralogia e PetrologiaIn

Geological Setting of Type Material:

In hydrothermal veins (up to 30 mm thick) cross-cutting the albite-enriched facies of the ~1820 Ma A-type Madeira granite, Brazil

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Halloysite

Reference:

Synonyms of Waimirite-(Y)Hide

IMA2013-108

Other Language Names for Waimirite-(Y)Hide

German:Waimirit-(Y)

Relationship of Waimirite-(Y) to other SpeciesHide

Member of:

Oskarssonite Subgroup > Non-stoichiometric Perovskites Group > Perovskite Supergroup

Other Members of this group:

Oskarssonite

AlF₃

Trig. 3 : R3

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

3.A0.	Oskarssonite	AlF₃	Trig. 3 : R3
3.A0.	Sanguite	KCuCl₃	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
3.A0.	Mellizinkalite	K₃Zn₂Cl₇	Tric. 1 : P1
3.A0.	Flinteite	K₂ZnCl₄	Orth. mm2 : Pna2₁

Fluorescence of Waimirite-(Y)Hide

In UV light:

Not fluorescent under LW UV

Other InformationHide

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 Waimirite-(Y)Hide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-46049.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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External Links:

Look for Waimirite-(Y) on Webmineral

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Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

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References for Waimirite-(Y)Hide

Reference List:

Minuzzii, O.R.R., Ferroni, J.M.T.M., Bastos Netoi, A.C., Pereira, V.P. (2003) Primeira Notícia da Descoberta de Waimirita e Atroarita, Dois Novos Minerais na Mina de Pitinga, AM, Brasil. Pesquisas em Geociências: 30(1): 99-101. http://www.ufrgs.br/igeo/pesquisas/3001/07-3001.pdf

Williams, P. A., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2014) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2014, CNMNC Newsletter No 19. Mineralogical Magazine, 78 (1) 165-170 doi:10.1180/minmag.2014.078.1.12

Atencio, D., Bastos Neto, A.C., Pereira, V.P., Ferron, J.T.M.M., Coutinho, J.M.V., Andrade, M.B., Domanik, K. (2014) Waimirite-(Y), orthorhombic YF3 from Pitinga Mine, Presidente Figueiredo, Amazonas, Brazil. 21st General Meeting of the IMA (IMA2014), Gauteng, South Africa, September 1-5; Abstract Volume, 372.

(2023) Waimirite-(Y) Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for Waimirite-(Y)Hide

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the

symbol to view information about a locality. The

symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

Locality ListHide

- 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). ~~Struck out~~ - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.


Brazil (TL)
Amazonas Presidente Figueiredo ⓘ Pitinga mine (TL)	Williams et al. (2014) +2 other references

Saudi Arabia
Tabuk Region Midyan ⓘ Jabal Tawlah	Atencio et al. (2015)

Waimirite-(Y)

About Waimirite-(Y)Hide