Home > Skorpion, Broken Hill, Salmo – July 24 > MS1375 Churchite-(Y)

Churchite-(Y) - Sold


Churchite-(Y) is a yttrium phosphate mineral with the gypsum crystal structure type. The mineral was first found in Cornwall, and described by Church (1865). Shortly thereafter, Williams (1865) named the mineral after the analyst, Arthur H. Church (1834-1915). Ultimately Claringbull & Hey (1953) re-analyzed churchite, and determining that its metal content largely consists of yttrium, thereby establishing its modern chemical formula.

Churchite-(Y) here forms radiating spheres to 4 mm on in a cavity in metasedimentary matrix. The silky white churchite-(Y) contrasts strongly against the black manganese oxides which line the cavity. Churchite-(Y) sprays from this find at Skorpion seems to be the among world's largest.