Yellow crystal aggregates of the extremely rare yttrium wolframate mineral paraniite-(Y) from the TL in Fianel mine (Fianel, Ausserferrera, Ferrera Valley, Hinterrhein, Grisons, Switzerland) and only one of the three known localities worldiwde. Ex. Erich Laskowski collection (USA). — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY 4.0
Paraniite-(Y)
Paraniite-(Y) is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the arsenate class, with the chemical formula (Ca,Y,Dy)₂Y(WO₄)₂(AsO₄).
It crystallizes in the tetragonal crystal system (space group I4_1/a).
Key properties: specific gravity 5.95; Vitreous to adamantine luster; optically uniaxial.
IMA symbol Prn-Y, IMA status: approved, named in 1992.
A very rare mineral found in a fissure in gneiss in an area anomalously high in arsenic (Pizzo Cervandone, Italy).
It is found associated with Scheelite–powellite, beryl, roméite, betafite, fluorapatite, bergslagite, barite, manganoan dolomite, quartz (Fianel mine, Switzerland).
The mineral was named to honor Fausto Parani, amateur mineral collector of Montecrestese, Italy, who found the mineral.