Parisite-(Ce) is a rare earth fluorocarbonate mineral recognized for its distinctive, often elongated, pseudo-hexagonal bipyramidal crystal habits. It is highly sought after by collectors for its sharp, translucent brown crystals, particularly those originating from the classic emerald-bearing hydrothermal deposits in Colombia.
Is this parisite-(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 parisite-(ce) with a known reference. Parisite-(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: pale yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to resinous, pearly on {0001} parting.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brown, brownish yellow, grayish yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: acicular, prismatic, striated.
Often confused with
Parisite-(Ce) vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside parisite-(ce)
Minerals reported to co-occur with parisite-(ce). Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaCe₂(CO₃)₃F₂
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5
- Density
- 4.33 g/cm³
- Streak
- Pale yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous to resinous, pearly on {0001} parting
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular, prismatic, striated
- Cleavage
- On pseudo-{0001}, probably a parting
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- An accessory mineral in differentiated alkalic massifs, granite pegmatites, and RE-rich carbonatites
Where rockhounds find parisite-(ce)
Classic worldwide localities
- Snowbird deposit and the nearby Cedar Log prospect, Mineral Co., and from Pyrites, 13 km east of Florence, Ravalli Co., Montana, USA
- Quincy, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts, USA
- Muzo district, Boyacá Province, Colombia
- Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada
- Holmestrand, Vestfold, Norway
- Trimouns talc deposit, six km northeast of Luzenac, Ariège, France
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: An accessory mineral in differentiated alkalic massifs, granite pegmatites, and RE-rich carbonatites. If you start seeing bastnäsite, synchysite, cordylite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular, prismatic, striated. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify parisite-(ce)?+
Where is parisite-(ce) found?+
What rocks look like parisite-(ce)?+
What minerals are found with parisite-(ce)?+
What kind of rock does parisite-(ce) form in?+
What is parisite-(ce) used for?+
Find parisite-(ce) on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
