YAVAPAIITE Meaning and
Definition
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Yavapaiite is a mineral that belongs to the pyrite group of minerals. It is primarily composed of iron and sulfur, with a chemical formula of Fe3+2(S,Se)2. The mineral was named after its type locality, the Yavapai County in Arizona, United States. It was first discovered in the Bradshaw Mountains of Arizona in the mid-1970s.
Yavapaiite typically occurs in hydrothermal veins associated with other sulfide minerals such as pyrite, marcasite, and galena. It often forms as botryoidal or reniform masses, which are spherical or kidney-shaped aggregates. The mineral has a metallic luster and its color can vary from silver-white to pale brass-yellow. It has a distinct greenish-gray streak on the mineral's surface.
Yavapaiite has a monoclinic crystal structure and exhibits good cleavage. It has a hardness of 6-6.5 on the Mohs scale, indicating that it is relatively hard compared to other minerals. Yavapaiite is also known to be brittle and somewhat malleable.
While Yavapaiite is not a widely known or sought-after mineral, its distinctive appearance and occurrence in interesting geological settings make it of interest to collectors and mineral enthusiasts. Its specific composition and association with other minerals give clues about the conditions under which it formed, providing valuable insights into the geological history of its locality.
Etymology of YAVAPAIITE
The word "yavapaiite" is derived from the name of the Yavapai Native American tribe and the suffix "-ite", which is commonly used in mineralogy to signify that a mineral is a member of a specific group or family.
Yavapai refers to the Yavapai people, who are indigenous to the southwestern United States, primarily in what is now known as Arizona. The Yavapai have a rich cultural heritage and have inhabited the region for thousands of years.
In mineralogy, the suffix "-ite" is added to the name of a person, place, or mineral to indicate that it is a mineral species or variety. This convention was established by geologists to honor significant individuals, localities, or tribes associated with the discovery or study of a particular mineral.
