Perbøeite-(Ce) is a rare silicate mineral belonging to the gadolinite supergroup, known primarily from its type locality in the pegmatites of Norway. It typically appears as dark, complex prismatic crystals and is prized by advanced systematic mineral collectors due to its restricted occurrence and chemical complexity.
Is this perbøeite-(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 perbøeite-(ce) with a known reference. Perbøeite-(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: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pale grayish green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Perbøeite-(Ce) vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Perbøeite-(Ce) leaves white, Gadolinite-(Y) leaves greenish gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Perbøeite-(Ce) leaves white, Allanite leaves gray; luster reads vitreous on Perbøeite-(Ce) and submetallic on Allanite.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (CaCe₃)(Al₃Fe)(Si₂O₇)(SiO₄)₃O(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 6-7
- Density
- 4.474 g/cm³
- Colors
- Pale grayish green
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic crystals
- Cleavage
- Good on {100}, imperfect on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A late primary phase in REE-bearing quartz-microcline pegmatite
Where rockhounds find perbøeite-(ce)
Classic worldwide localities
- Hundholmen, Stetind, and Nedre Eivollen pegmatites in the Tysfjord granite, Norway
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A late primary phase in REE-bearing quartz-microcline pegmatite. If you start seeing yttrian fluorite, törnebohmite-, allanite- in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify perbøeite-(ce)?+
Where is perbøeite-(ce) found?+
Is perbøeite-(ce) safe to handle?+
What rocks look like perbøeite-(ce)?+
What minerals are found with perbøeite-(ce)?+
What kind of rock does perbøeite-(ce) form in?+
What is perbøeite-(ce) used for?+
Find perbøeite-(ce) on the map
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