Euxenite-Y

Description

Euxenite-(Y) [(Y,Ca,Ce,U,Th)(Nb,Ta,Ti)O, and “1% Tb”] is an element collector’s dream rock, with the Rare-Earths and cocktail of elements: Niobium, Yttrium, Cesium, Uranium, Thorium, Tantalum, Titanium, Calcium, Oxygen, and according to wikipedia, more than 1% Terbium, all-in-one. Often found in Granite Pegmatites, this is a rock you’ll want to watch out for and to make sure not to needlessly touch, put in your pocket on the hike back, or ingest this in any way. It should be needless to say, as the U and Th make this rock radioactive, but in case it hasn’t been made clear: DON’T LICK THIS ROCK. This is one of four minerals with a small concentration of Terbium, and along with Gadolinite, Monazite, and Xenotime, it’s not very common, but it’s found in 12 Colorado counties and at least in one place on every Continent, or you could find this specific specimen at ColoRockCo.com. First described in 1870 in Norway and named after the Greek, “εὔξενος”, for ‘hospitable’ or ‘friendly to strangers’, it’s almost as though they knew how dangerous this rock is and just wanted to play a prank on us future Rockhounds…