Cordylite-(Ce) is a rare carbonate mineral typically occurring as hexagonal tabular crystals in alkaline pegmatites. It is highly sought after by collectors of rare earth minerals for its distinct habit and association with other unique mineral species in environments like Mont Saint-Hilaire.
Is this cordylite-(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 cordylite-(ce) with a known reference. Cordylite-(Ce) sits at Mohs 4.5, 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: adamantine, vitreous, resinous, oily, pearly on {0001}; waxy if altered.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, colorless, gray brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Cordylite-(Ce) vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Cordylite-(Ce) leaves white, Parisite-(Ce) leaves pale yellow; luster reads adamantine, vitreous, resinous, oily, pearly on {0001}; waxy if altered on Cordylite-(Ce) and vitreous to resinous, pearly on {0001} parting on Parisite-(Ce).
How to tell apart: Luster reads adamantine, vitreous, resinous, oily, pearly on {0001}; waxy if altered on Cordylite-(Ce) and vitreous to subadamantine, may be greasy on Synchysite-(Ce).
Often found alongside cordylite-(ce)
Minerals reported to co-occur with cordylite-(ce). Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Na,Ca,□)BaCe₂(CO₃)₄(F,O)
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5
- Density
- 4.01-4.44 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Adamantine, vitreous, resinous, oily, pearly on {0001}; waxy if altered
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals
- Cleavage
- Good on {0001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Rare in an alkali pegmatite (Narssârssuk, Greenland); a late-stage mineral in miarolitic vugs and fractures (Saint-Amable, Canada)
Where rockhounds find cordylite-(ce)
Classic worldwide localities
- Narssârssuk, Greenland
- Mont Saint-Hilaire, and from near Saint-Amable, Quebec, Canada
- Khibiny massif, the Vuoriyarvi carbonatite complex, and the Lesnaya Varaka carbonatite, Kola Peninsula, Russia
- Bayan Obo Fe–Nb–RE deposit, 130 km north of Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Rare in an alkali pegmatite (Narssârssuk, Greenland); a late-stage mineral in miarolitic vugs and fractures (Saint-Amable, Canada). If you start seeing aegirine, ancylite-, synchysite- 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 cordylite-(ce)?+
Where is cordylite-(ce) found?+
What rocks look like cordylite-(ce)?+
What minerals are found with cordylite-(ce)?+
What kind of rock does cordylite-(ce) form in?+
What is cordylite-(ce) used for?+
Find cordylite-(ce) on the map
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