Ferriperbøeite-(Ce) is a rare sorosilicate mineral belonging to the epidote supergroup. It is primarily identified in skarn deposits through analytical methods such as electron microprobe analysis, as it closely resembles other dark, prismatic members of the allanite subgroup.
Is this ferriperbøeite-(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 ferriperbøeite-(ce) with a known reference. Ferriperbøeite-(Ce) sits at Mohs 6-7, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: brown.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brownish black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: anhedral to subhedral grains.
Often confused with
Ferriperbøeite-(Ce) vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Ferriperbøeite-(Ce) leaves brown, Epidote leaves grayish white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Ferriperbøeite-(Ce) leaves brown, Allanite leaves gray; luster reads vitreous on Ferriperbøeite-(Ce) and submetallic on Allanite.
Often found alongside ferriperbøeite-(ce)
Minerals reported to co-occur with ferriperbøeite-(ce). Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (CaCe₃)(FeAl₂Fe)(Si₂O₇)(SiO₄)₃O(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 6-7
- Density
- 4.610 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Brown
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral to subhedral grains
- Cleavage
- Good on {100}, imperfect on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In crystal aggregates, largely replacing cerite-(Ce), in a Fe-Cu-REE skarn deposit
Where rockhounds find ferriperbøeite-(ce)
Classic worldwide localities
- Nya Bastnäs Fe-Cu-REE skarn deposit, Bergslagen mining region (Skinnskatteberg) and Högfors Fe mines, Riddarhyttan, Västmanland, and the Rödbergsgruvan Fe mine, Nora, Örebro, Sweden
- Biraya REE-Fe ore deposit, Vitim highland, Irkutskaya Oblast’ and Mochalin Log, Potanin Mountains, southern Urals, Chelyabinsk Oblast’, Russia
- Ren carbonatite sill, Monashee Mountains, British Columbia, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In crystal aggregates, largely replacing cerite-(Ce), in a Fe-Cu-REE skarn deposit. If you start seeing cerite-, törnebohmite-, ferriallanite- in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: anhedral to subhedral grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify ferriperbøeite-(ce)?+
Where is ferriperbøeite-(ce) found?+
What rocks look like ferriperbøeite-(ce)?+
What minerals are found with ferriperbøeite-(ce)?+
What kind of rock does ferriperbøeite-(ce) form in?+
What is ferriperbøeite-(ce) used for?+
Find ferriperbøeite-(ce) on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
