yttrium phosphate

mineral

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Last updated

July 17, 2026

Quick Summary

Xenotime is a phosphate mineral composed of yttrium phosphate (YPO₄), often containing significant amounts of erbium. It typically appears as brown, glassy crystals and is found in igneous rocks, pegmatites, and gneiss. The name "xenotime" originates from Greek words meaning "vain honor," as the yttrium within it was once mistakenly believed to be a new element.1

Yttrium itself is a rare-earth metal with the chemical symbol Y and atomic number 39. It is a silvery-white, ductile metal that is relatively stable in air. Yttrium was first isolated in 1794 from a mineral found in Ytterby, Sweden, and it is a key component in various applications, including phosphors for lighting and displays, lasers, and high-temperature superconducting ceramics.2

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xenotime
yttrium phosphate (YPO₄), though large proportions of erbium commonly replace yttrium), that occurs as brown, glassy crystals, crystal aggregates, or rosettes in igneous rocks and associated pegmatites, in quartzose and micaceous gneiss, and commonly in detrital material. Occurrences include Norway, Sweden, Madagascar, Brazil, and North…
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yttrium phosphate (YPO₄), though large proportions of erbium commonly replace yttrium), that occurs as brown, glassy crystals, crystal aggregates, or rosettes in igneous rocks and associated pegmatites, in quartzose and micaceous gneiss, and commonly in detrital material. Occurrences include Norway, Sweden, Madagascar, Brazil, and North…
Read More