samarskite

Thân thiện

A geologist holds a piece of samarskite in a rock collection.

Definition

Noun: 1. A complex black mineral: A naturally occurring, inorganic solid substance with a characteristic chemical composition and crystalline structure. Samarskite is specifically noted for its black color and its occurrence within pegmatites, which are coarse-grained igneous rocks. 2. A source of rare-earth elements: This mineral is significant as an ore containing various rare-earth metals and other elements like uranium, thorium, and niobium.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Geologists identified the black crystalline mass as samarskite.
  • The museum's collection features a fine specimen of samarskite from a Norwegian pegmatite.
  • Early research on radioactive elements utilized samarskite as a source material.

Advanced Usage

• Scientific Context: In mineralogy and geology, "samarskite" is used precisely to classify a specific mineral group within the oxide class. Its complex, variable formula is often written as (Y, Ce, U, Fe)₃(Nb, Ta, Ti)₅O₁₆.
• Historical Context: The mineral is named after the Russian mining official Vassili Samarsky-Bykhovets. It was in samarskite that the element samarium was first discovered.

Variants and Related Words

• Samarskite-(Y): The most common variant of the mineral, where yttrium (Y) is the dominant rare-earth element.
• Samarskite-(Yb): A rarer variant where ytterbium (Yb) is dominant.
• Pegmatite: The type of igneous rock in which samarskite is typically found.

Synonyms

• Mineral: (general category)
• Rare-earth ore: (describes its economic use)

Note: There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs associated with this highly technical term.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a complex black mineral occurring in pegmatites