Huanghoite-(Ce) is a rare barium-cerium fluorocarbonate mineral typically found in carbonatite complexes. Collectors should look for its characteristic pale yellow, tabular or platy hexagonal crystals which often occur alongside other rare-earth minerals.
Is this huanghoite-(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 huanghoite-(ce) with a known reference. Huanghoite-(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: greasy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow green, honey yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: platy crystals, tabular, hexagonal prisms.
Often confused with
Huanghoite-(Ce) vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside huanghoite-(ce)
Minerals reported to co-occur with huanghoite-(ce). Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- BaCe(CO₃)₂F
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5
- Density
- 4.51-4.67 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Greasy
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Platy crystals, tabular, hexagonal prisms
- Cleavage
- On {0001}, distinct
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- An uncommon mineral in hydrothermal veins associated with rare-earth-bearing carbonatite deposits in alkaline igneous complexes
Where rockhounds find huanghoite-(ce)
Classic worldwide localities
- Bayan Obo Fe–Nb–RE deposit, 130 km north of Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China
- An unspecified carbonatite in Siberia, and in the Khibiny massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia
- Aley carbonatite, east of Williston Lake, British Columbia, Canada
- Qaqarssuk carbonatite, near Sukkertoppen, Greenland
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: An uncommon mineral in hydrothermal veins associated with rare-earth-bearing carbonatite deposits in alkaline igneous complexes. If you start seeing aegirine, fluorite, magnetite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy crystals, tabular, hexagonal prisms. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify huanghoite-(ce)?+
Where is huanghoite-(ce) found?+
What rocks look like huanghoite-(ce)?+
What minerals are found with huanghoite-(ce)?+
What kind of rock does huanghoite-(ce) form in?+
What is huanghoite-(ce) used for?+
Find huanghoite-(ce) on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
