Euxenite-(Y) - Trout Creek Pass, Chaffe County, Colorado, USA

Y(Ti,Nb)₂(O,OH)₆

Euxenite-(Y), a complex oxide mineral rich in rare earth elements, niobium, tantalum, and titanium, is a notable find from Trout Creek Pass in Colorado. This locality is renowned for its pegmatite deposits, which host a variety of rare and unusual minerals. Euxenite-(Y) from this area typically appears as black to dark brown, slightly resinous masses with a submetallic to vitreous luster. The mineral forms in high-temperature, highly evolved pegmatites, where it is often associated with other rare earth minerals, feldspars, and quartz. Its composition and presence make it an important specimen for collectors and geologists studying rare earth and high-field-strength element enrichment in pegmatite systems.

The euxenite-(Y) from Trout Creek Pass is particularly valued for its role as a source of rare earth elements, including yttrium and other lanthanides, as well as its association with niobium and tantalum, critical for modern technology. This mineral provides a window into the geochemical processes that create highly evolved pegmatites, including the concentration of rare and strategic elements. Specimens from Trout Creek Pass are appreciated not only for their aesthetic appeal but also for their scientific significance, contributing to our understanding of mineral formation and the geological history of Colorado's pegmatites.

Approx. specimen size: 50mm x 35mm x 20mm

Approx. specimen activity on an SE International Ranger EXP: 3500 cpm