Percleveite-(Ce) is a rare silicate mineral primarily found in rare-earth-rich pegmatites. It typically occurs as small, brownish tabular crystals and is distinguished from more common silicates by its specific chemical signature and association with REE-bearing minerals.
Is this percleveite-(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 percleveite-(ce) with a known reference. Percleveite-(Ce) sits at Mohs 6, 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: resinous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless, yellowish gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: anhedral grains.
Often confused with
Percleveite-(Ce) vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Percleveite-(Ce) leaves white, Allanite leaves gray; luster reads resinous on Percleveite-(Ce) and submetallic on Allanite.
How to tell apart: Percleveite-(Ce) is noticeably harder (Mohs 6 vs. 4.5-5); luster reads resinous on Percleveite-(Ce) and vitreous on Ekanite.
Often found alongside percleveite-(ce)
Minerals reported to co-occur with percleveite-(ce). Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ce₂Si₂O₇
- Mohs hardness
- 6
- Density
- 5.26 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Resinous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral grains
- Cleavage
- Imperfect on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Minor grain in cerite-(Ce) ore with magnetite, chalcopyrite and clinoamphibole
Where rockhounds find percleveite-(ce)
Classic worldwide localities
- Museum sepcimen of cerium-rich ore from the Bastnas deposit, Skinnskatteberg district, Vastmanland, Sweden (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Minor grain in cerite-(Ce) ore with magnetite, chalcopyrite and clinoamphibole. If you start seeing quartz, microcline, albite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: anhedral grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify percleveite-(ce)?+
Where is percleveite-(ce) found?+
What rocks look like percleveite-(ce)?+
What minerals are found with percleveite-(ce)?+
What kind of rock does percleveite-(ce) form in?+
What is percleveite-(ce) used for?+
Find percleveite-(ce) on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
