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Phosphate

Florencite-(Ce)

CeAl₃(PO₄)₂(OH)₆
Hardness5–6
Crystal systemHexagonal
ClassPhosphate
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Florencite-(Ce) specimen

Florencite-(Ce) , Uvite , Magnesite Locality: Serra das Éguas, Brumado (Bom Jesus dos Meiras) , Bahia , Northeast Region, Brazil ( Locality at mindat.org ) Size: 10.5 x 6.7 x 5.2 cm. Florencite-(Ce) is a very rare, rare-earth, cerium-rich phosphate. This fine cabinet combination specimen is covered with very glassy and lustrous, colorless magnesite rhombs to 1.0 cm. The highlight of this specimen, though, is the isolated, 6 mm, sharp, euhedral, straw-yellow florencite-(Ce) crystal on the right side of the piece and the scattered microcrystals. The sprinkling of gemmy, dark cherry-red uvite crystals to 5 mm is a nice bonus. — Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0

Florencite-(Ce)

Florencite-(Ce) is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the phosphate class, with the chemical formula CeAl₃(PO₄)₂(OH)₆.

It crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal system (space group R-3m). It is a member of the Alunite-crandallite structural group.

Key properties: Mohs hardness 5–6; specific gravity 3.45–3.54; Greasy to resinous luster; optically uniaxial.

IMA symbol Flo-Ce, IMA status: approved, named in 1899.

Found as a weathering product, typically of apatite, in highly argillized igneous rocks, bauxite, saprolite, carbonatites; authigenic in shales and sandstones; formed by the interaction of guano-reacted waters with gabbroic rock.

It is found associated with Kaolinite, muscovite, alunite, siderite, quartz (sedimentary rocks); monazite, bastnäsite, apatite, ankerite, strontianite, barite, sphalerite.

The mineral was named to honor Dr. William Florence (1864–1942), Brazilian mineralogist who made an early analysis, and for the dominant rare earth element, cerium.

Index entry. This entry combines official IMA/RRUFF species data with published physical-property data — a full written entry hasn’t been published yet. Browse more F minerals or help write this entry.