Yellow crystal aggregates of the rare cerium mineral huanghoite-(Ce) from Greenland (Qaqqaarsuk, Maniitsoq, Maniitsoq Island, Qeqqata, Greenland), associated to alstonite and ancylite-(Ce). Ex Vandenbroucke Museum collection from Waregem, Belgium. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Huanghoite-(Ce)
Huanghoite-(Ce) is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the carbonate class, with the chemical formula BaCe(CO₃)₂F.
It crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal system (space group R-3m).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 4.5; specific gravity 4.51–4.67; Greasy luster; optically uniaxial.
IMA symbol Hho-Ce, IMA status: approved, named in 1961.
Occurs as an uncommon mineral in hydrothermal veins in association with rare-earth-bearing carbonatite deposits in alkaline igneous complexes.
It is found associated with Aegirine, fluorite, magnetite, hematite, monazite, bastnäsite, parisite, aeschynite, calcite (Bayan Obo, China); “chlorite”, barite, strontianite, pyrite.
The name refers to the Huang Ho (Yellow River), China, 150 km south of the Bayan Obo deposit, China, where the first specimens were collected.