Byelorussite-(Ce) is a rare silicate mineral primarily found in the complex alkaline rocks of the Kola Peninsula. It typically occurs as small, flattened, yellow-to-brown tabular crystals embedded within pegmatitic environments. Collectors usually acquire it in suite-style specimens alongside other rare accessory minerals from the Lovozero or Khibiny massifs.
Is this byelorussite-(ce)?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch byelorussite-(ce) with a known reference. Byelorussite-(Ce) sits at Mohs 5.5-6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, yellow brown, light brown, light yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Byelorussite-(Ce) vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Byelorussite-(Ce) is noticeably harder (Mohs 5.5-6 vs. ~3); streak differs, so Byelorussite-(Ce) leaves white, Tundrite-(Ce) leaves yellowish gray to white.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Byelorussite-(Ce) and adamantine to resinous on Titanite.
Often found alongside byelorussite-(ce)
Minerals reported to co-occur with byelorussite-(ce). Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaBa₂Ce₂MnTi₂Si₈O₂₆(F,OH)·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5-6
- Density
- 3.92 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {001}, imperfect on {100}, poor on {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a salband of a quartz vein in lower Proterozoic metasomatized granosyenites
Where rockhounds find byelorussite-(ce)
Classic worldwide localities
- In the Zhitkovitschskii district, west of Gomel, Belarus (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a salband of a quartz vein in lower Proterozoic metasomatized granosyenites. If you start seeing brookite, bastnäsite, montmorillonite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify byelorussite-(ce)?+
Where is byelorussite-(ce) found?+
What rocks look like byelorussite-(ce)?+
What minerals are found with byelorussite-(ce)?+
What kind of rock does byelorussite-(ce) form in?+
What is byelorussite-(ce) used for?+
Find byelorussite-(ce) on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
