Fluorbritholite-(Ce)
Fluorbritholite-(Ce) is a Rare Earth Element (REE) rich mineral that is silicate. It offers the planet that is rare Cerium (Ce), Lanthanum (Los Angeles), Neodymium (Nd), Praeseodymium (Pr), Samarium (Sm) and Yttrium (Y). Rare earth elements really are a pair of seventeen chemical elements, specifically the fifteen Lanthanides plus Scandium and Yttrium. Despite their title, rare earth elements (with the exception of the radioactive Promethium) are relatively plentiful into the Earth’s crust, with Cerium being the 25th most abundant element (like Copper).
Fluorbritholite-(Ce) can be the analogue that is fluorine-dominant ofCe). Fluorbritholite-(Ce) is present in vugs in nepheline syenite, marble xenoliths, sodalite syenite xenoliths, and dikes that are pegmatite. It occurs as yellow, tan or reddish-brown aggregates and patches consisting of radiating crystals that are prismatic. The image above shows a contrast that is nice of Fluorbritholite-(Ce) and black Allanite-(Ce) from the Rusty Gold locality, Jamestown, Boulder County, Colorado, United States Of America.
Fluorbritholite-(Ce) is the analogue that is fluorine-dominant ofCe). Britholite was first described and named by Christian Winther in 1901 through the Greek word brithos for weight, referring to the high gravity that is specific of mineral; and (Ce) for its cerium content.
Locations for finding Ce that is fluorbritholite-() at the type locality Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Québec, Canada; Sakhariok Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast’, Northern Region, Russia. In Sweden at Norra Kärr, Gränna, Jönköping, Småland and at Malmkärra Mine, Norberg, Västmanland. In the USA at “Cerite” occurrences (“Rusty Gold” locality), Jamestown, Jamestown District, Boulder County, Colorado.
| Chemical Formula: | Ca2(Ce,Ca,La)3(SiO4,PO4)3(F,OH) |
| Calcium Cerium Lanthanum Silicate Phosphate Fluoride Hydroxide | |
| Emperical Chemical Formula: | Ca1.95Ce1.39La0.76Nd0.31Pr0.17Y0.09Th0.05Sr0.03Sm0.03Si2.68P0.31O12.02F0.98 |
| Molecular Weight: | 769.69 gm |
| Composition: | Strontium | 0.34 % | Sr | 0.40 % | SrO |
| Calcium | 10.15 % | Ca | 14.21 % | CaO | |
| Lanthanum | 13.72 % | La | 16.09 % | La2O3 | |
| Cerium | 25.30 % | Ce | 29.64 % | Ce2O3 | |
| Praeseodymium | 3.11 % | Pr | 3.64 % | Pr2O3 | |
| Samarium | 0.59 % | Sm | 0.68 % | Sm2O3 | |
| Yttrium | 1.04 % | Y | 1.32 % | Y2O3 | |
| Thorium | 1.51 % | Th | 1.72 % | ThO2 | |
| Silicon | 9.78 % | Si | 20.92 % | SiO2 | |
| Phosphorus | 1.25 % | P | 2.86 % | P2O5 | |
| Neodymium | 5.81 % | Nd | 6.78 % | Nd2O3 | |
| Oxygen | 24.99 % | O | |||
| Fluorine | 2.42 % | F | 2.42 % | F | |
| — | — % | F | -1.02 % | -O=F2 | |
| 100.00 % | 99.65 % | = TOTAL OXIDE |
| Crystallography: | Hexagonal – Dipyramidal |
| Crystal Habit: | Crystals are hexagonal prisms, to 1 cm; granular, massive; includes aggregates of radiating prismatic crystals. |
| Twinning: | None |
| Cleavage: | Distinct on {001} |
| Fracture: | Conchoidal |
| Tenacity: | Brittle |
| Moh’s Hardness: | 5.0 |
| Density: | 4.20 – 4.69 (g/cm3) |
| Luminescence: | None |
| Radioactivity: | Weak; GRapi = 29,254.55 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units) |
| Health Warning: | Contains Cerium and Thorium – always wash hands after handling. Avoid inhaling dust when handling or breaking. Never lick or ingest. Avoid prolonged exposure in proximity of the body. Store away from inhabited areas. |
| Color: | Pale yellow, tan, colorless, reddish brown |
| Transparency: | Opaque to translucent; transparent in thin flakes |
| Luster: | Adamantine |
| Refractive Index: | 1.782 – 1.792 Uniaxial ( – ) |
| Birefringence: | 0.006 |
| Dispersion: | n/a |
| Pleochroism: | n/a |
