Chernovite-(Y) is a rare yttrium arsenate mineral that is the arsenic-dominant analog of xenotime-(Y). It is typically found in alkaline pegmatite environments, often occurring as small prismatic crystals that require careful identification through X-ray diffraction or chemical analysis.
Is this chernovite-(y)?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch chernovite-(y) with a known reference. Chernovite-(Y) sits at Mohs 4.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, colorless, light yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: prismatic, pseudo octohedral.
Often confused with
Chernovite-(Y) vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside chernovite-(y)
Minerals reported to co-occur with chernovite-(y). Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- YAsO₄
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5
- Density
- 4.866 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic, pseudo octohedral
- Cleavage
- On {010}, perfect; may glide on {001} or {110}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In piemontite veinlets in liparite porphyry (Nyarta-Syu-Yu River, Russia); in Alpine-type fissures (Binntal, Switzerland)
Where rockhounds find chernovite-(y)
Classic worldwide localities
- Squaw Creek tin prospect and Paramount Canyon, Taylor Creek district, Sierra Co., New Mexico, USA
- Head of the Nyarta-Syu-Yu River, east of Mt. Tel’posiz, Polar Ural Mountains, Russia
- East flank of Pizzo Cervandone, Alpe Devero, Val d’Aosta, Piedmont, Italy
- Sailauf, northeast of Aschaffenburg, Bavaria, Germany
- Brumado, Bahia, also at the José Pinto pegmatite, at Jaguaraçú, near Coronel Fabriciano, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In piemontite veinlets in liparite porphyry (Nyarta-Syu-Yu River, Russia); in Alpine-type fissures (Binntal, Switzerland). If you start seeing piemontite, molybdenian scheelite, albite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic, pseudo octohedral. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify chernovite-(y)?+
Where is chernovite-(y) found?+
Is chernovite-(y) safe to handle?+
What rocks look like chernovite-(y)?+
What minerals are found with chernovite-(y)?+
What kind of rock does chernovite-(y) form in?+
What is chernovite-(y) used for?+
Find chernovite-(y) on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
