Lanthanite-(Ce) is a rare hydrated rare-earth carbonate typically found as a secondary mineral resulting from the alteration of other rare-earth minerals like bastnäsite. It usually presents as delicate, platy crystals or as white to pinkish crusts coating cavities in carbonatite deposits.
Is this lanthanite-(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 lanthanite-(ce) with a known reference. Lanthanite-(Ce) sits at Mohs ~2.5, 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: vitreous to pearly.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: platy.
Often confused with
Lanthanite-(Ce) vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ce₂(CO₃)₃·8H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- ~2.5
- Density
- 2.76 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to pearly
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Platy
- Cleavage
- {010}, perfect, micaceous
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare secondary mineral typically formed by alteration or weathering from earlier rare-earth-element-bearing minerals
Where rockhounds find lanthanite-(ce)
Classic worldwide localities
- Sanford mine, Moriah, Essex Co., New York, USA
- Medford quarry, 50 km west of Baltimore, Carroll Co., Maryland, USA
- Baringer Hill pegmatite, 26 km west of Burnet, Llano Co., Texas. from vermiculite prospects at the head of Big Sandy Creek, Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, about 40 km east of Box Elder, Hill Co., Montana, USA
- Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada, Montana, USA
- Britannia mine, Snowdonia, Gwynedd, Wales
- Bastnäs mine, near Riddarhyttan, Västmanland, Sweden
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare secondary mineral typically formed by alteration or weathering from earlier rare-earth-element-bearing minerals. If you start seeing allanite-, cerite- in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify lanthanite-(ce)?+
Where is lanthanite-(ce) found?+
What rocks look like lanthanite-(ce)?+
What minerals are found with lanthanite-(ce)?+
What kind of rock does lanthanite-(ce) form in?+
What is lanthanite-(ce) used for?+
Find lanthanite-(ce) on the map
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