White aggregates of the rare cerium mineral sazhinite-/Ce) from Kola (Karnasurt Mountain, Lovozero Massif, Murmansk Oblast, Russian Federation). Ex. Erich Laskowski collection (USA). — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY 4.0
Sazhinite-(Ce)
Sazhinite-(Ce) is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the silicate class, with the chemical formula Na₃CeSi₆O₁₅·2H₂O.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group Pmm2).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 2–3; specific gravity 2.61; Vitreous to pearly luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Szi-Ce, IMA status: approved, named in 1973.
Occurs as disseminations in natrolite and rims around altered steenstrupine in an alkalic pegmatite in a differentiated alkalic massif (Lovozero massif, Russia).
It is found associated with Natrolite, steenstrupine, neptunite (Lovozero massif, Russia); vuonnemite, s¶erandite, ussingite, sodalite, eudialyte (Mont Saint-Hilaire, Canada).
The name refers to Academician Nikolai Petrovich Sazhin (1898–1969), a founder of the Soviet rare-earth industry, Mendeleeev Chemical Technology Institute, Moscow, Russia.