Cerite-(Ce) (picture width: 3.2 x 2.2 mm) Locality: Poudrette quarry (Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Desourdy quarry), Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada — Photo: Modris Baum · Public domain
Cerite-(Ce)
Cerite is a complex silicate mineral group containing cerium, formula (Ce,La,Ca)9(Mg,Fe3+)(SiO4)6(SiO3OH)(OH)3. The cerium and lanthanum content varies with the Ce rich species (cerite-(Ce)) and the La rich species (cerite-(La)). Analysis of a sample from the Mountain Pass carbonatite gave 35.05% Ce2O3 and 30.04% La2O3. Cerite was first described in 1803 for an occurrence in Bastnäs in Västmanland, Sweden. The lanthanum rich species, cerite-(La) was first described for an occurrence in the Khibina massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia in 2002.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Cerite-(Ce) is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the silicate class, with the chemical formula (Ce,La,Ca)₉(Mg,Fe³⁺)(SiO₄)₃(SiO₃OH)₄(OH)₃.
It crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal system (space group R3c). It is a member of the Cerite structural group.
IMA symbol Crt-Ce, IMA status: approved, named in 1804.