Editorial Feature

Yushkinite - Occurrence, Properties, and Distribution

Yushkinite is a trigonal-ditrigonal pyramidal mineral, containing vanadium, sulfur, oxygen, magnesium, hydrogen, and aluminum. It is a member of the valleriite group.

It was first observed in Pay-Khoy, in the middle stream of the Silova-Yakha River, Russia. The mineral was named after Nikolai Pavlovich Yushkin, a Russian mineralogist.

Properties of Yushkinite

The following are the key properties of Yushkinite:

  • Cell Data
    • Space Group: P3m1 (?)
    • a = 3.21
    • c = 11.3
    • Z = n.d

  • Crystal Data
    • Hexagonal
    • Point Group: 3m (?)
    • Fine flaky, scaly aggregates, up to 8mm, and in veinlets, to 12 mm
    • X-ray Powder Pattern: 5.68 (10), 2.76 (6), 1.575 (6), 1.596 (4), 11.4 (3), 1.534 (3), 1.386 (3)

  • Chemical Composition
    Elements Content 1
    S 32.93
    V 32.48
    O 19.89
    Mg 10.17
    Al 5.66
    H 1.26
    Total 102.39

  • Optical Properties
    • Anisotropism: Strong, orange-red with weak lilac tint in isotropic sections, red-lilac to pinkish dark gray in anisotropic sections.

  • Estimated Properties
    Electron density Bulk density (electron density) = 2.87 g/cm3
    note: Specific gravity of Yushkinite = 2.88 g/cm3
    Photoelectric PEYushkinite = 5.79 barns/electron
    U = PEYushkinite x ρElectron density = 16.61 barns/cm3
    Fermion index Fermion index = 0.01
    Boson index = 0.99
    Radioactivity
    Yushkinite is not radioactive

How to Identify Yushkinite

Yushkinite can be found in pinkish-gray, red-lilac or violet colors, with a scaly morphology. It can be formed into aggregates or flakes. It has an opaque appearance, reddish-gray streak, and metallic luster.

The relative hardness of yushkinite is 1, and its density is 2.94 g/cm3.

Global Distribution

Yushkinite is widely distributed in Dolgozhdanny Waterfall, middle Silova-Yakha River, Pay-Khoy Mountains and Yugorskii Peninsula, Russia.

Occurrence of Yushkinite and Useful Mineral Association

Yushkinite occurs in quartz-carbonate veins in carbonate rocks.

It is closely associated with fluorite, sulvanite, and cadmian sphalerite.

References

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