Röntgenite-(Ce) is a rare rare-earth carbonate mineral primarily found in alkaline igneous environments. It typically occurs as small, pale yellow to brown tabular crystals, often forming intergrowths with related minerals like parisite and bastnäsite.
Is this röntgenite-(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 röntgenite-(ce) with a known reference. Röntgenite-(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: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals or complex rhombohedral aggregates.
Often confused with
Röntgenite-(Ce) vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₂Ce₃(CO₃)₅F₃
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5
- Density
- 4.19 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals or complex rhombohedral aggregates
- Cleavage
- Distinct
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare late-stage hydrothermal mineral in granite pegmatite (Narssârssuk, Greenland); in alkaline orthoclase pegmatite (Mianning deposit, China)
Where rockhounds find röntgenite-(ce)
Classic worldwide localities
- Narssârssuk, Greenland
- Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare late-stage hydrothermal mineral in granite pegmatite (Narssârssuk, Greenland); in alkaline orthoclase pegmatite (Mianning deposit, China). If you start seeing bastnäsite-, parisite- in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals or complex rhombohedral aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify röntgenite-(ce)?+
Where is röntgenite-(ce) found?+
What rocks look like röntgenite-(ce)?+
What minerals are found with röntgenite-(ce)?+
What kind of rock does röntgenite-(ce) form in?+
What is röntgenite-(ce) used for?+
Find röntgenite-(ce) on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
