Dissakisite-(Ce) is a rare mineral of the epidote group that replaces iron with magnesium in its structure. It typically occurs as dark brown to black prismatic crystals or massive aggregates within metamorphic environments like skarns and high-grade gneiss. It is highly valued by mineralogists for its unique chemistry but can be difficult to distinguish from allanite without specialized analytical equipment.
Is this dissakisite-(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 dissakisite-(ce) with a known reference. Dissakisite-(Ce) sits at Mohs 6.5-7, 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 brown, reddish brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: anhedral grains.
Often confused with
Dissakisite-(Ce) vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Dissakisite-(Ce) leaves white, Epidote leaves grayish white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Dissakisite-(Ce) leaves white, Allanite-(Ce) leaves gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Dissakisite-(Ce) leaves white, Clinozoisite leaves grayish white.
Often found alongside dissakisite-(ce)
Minerals reported to co-occur with dissakisite-(ce). Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaCeMgAl₂(Si₂O₇)(SiO₄)O(OH)
- Mohs hardness
- 6.5-7
- Density
- 3.75 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral grains
- Cleavage
- Good on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- Formed in marble, under amphibolite-facies metamorphism, at about 600 ° C and 7 kbar (Balchen Mountain, Antarctica)
Where rockhounds find dissakisite-(ce)
Classic worldwide localities
- Balchen Mountain, Sør Rondane Mountains, east Antarctica
- Fedorovskoye deposit, Yakutia, Russia
- Outokumpu, Finland
- Donghai district, Kiangsu Province, China
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Formed in marble, under amphibolite-facies metamorphism, at about 600 ° C and 7 kbar (Balchen Mountain, Antarctica). If you start seeing calcite, dolomite, forsterite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: anhedral grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify dissakisite-(ce)?+
Where is dissakisite-(ce) found?+
What rocks look like dissakisite-(ce)?+
What minerals are found with dissakisite-(ce)?+
What kind of rock does dissakisite-(ce) form in?+
What is dissakisite-(ce) used for?+
Find dissakisite-(ce) on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
