Class : Phosphates, arsenates, vanadates
    Subclass : Anhydrous arsenates
    Crystal system : Tetragonal
    Chemistry : YAsO₄
    Rarity : Very rare

Chernovite is an extremely rare yttrium arsenate which forms a series with xenotime, its phosphate equivalent. It may contain notable quantities of other rare earth elements, in particular lanthanides (lanthanum, erbium, gadolinium, etc.). Its name was given to it in honor of the Russian geologist Alexander Aleksandrovich Chernov. It is a very rare mineral whose deposit type is not well understood. It is in fact present in alpine clefts (Pizzo Cervandone, Italy), veinlets of piemontite with molybdenite and scheelite cutting liparites (Polar Urals), pegmatites (Jaguaraçu, Minas Gerais, Brazil), or magnesite deposits (Brumado , Brazil). It appears to be commonly a primary arsenate formed at high temperatures. It forms prismatic to acicular crystals of 6 mm maximum, pale yellow to greenish, sometimes orange.

Main photo : Chernovite from Monte Cervandone, Piedmont, Italy © Enrico Bonacina

No twins known for this mineral species.

No fake identified for this mineral species.