Sahamalite-(Ce) is a rare carbonate mineral primarily found in carbonatite complexes, most notably at Mountain Pass, California. It typically occurs as small tabular, colorless to pale yellow crystals associated with bastnäsite and barite.
Is this sahamalite-(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 sahamalite-(ce) with a known reference. Sahamalite-(Ce) sits at Mohs 4, 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: colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Sahamalite-(Ce) vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside sahamalite-(ce)
Minerals reported to co-occur with sahamalite-(ce). Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ce₂Mg(CO₃)₄
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 4.30 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals
- Cleavage
- Poor on {010}; traces on {201}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare accessory mineral in a rare-earth-bearing barite-dolomite carbonatite (Mountain Pass, California, USA)
Where rockhounds find sahamalite-(ce)
Classic worldwide localities
- Mountain Pass, San Bernardino Co., California, and on the Durham Ranch, Powder River Basin, 13 km northeast of Reno Junction and 25 km south of Gillette, Campbell Co., Wyoming, USA
- Kangankunde, Malawi
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare accessory mineral in a rare-earth-bearing barite-dolomite carbonatite (Mountain Pass, California, USA). If you start seeing parisite, bastnäsite, barite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify sahamalite-(ce)?+
Where is sahamalite-(ce) found?+
What rocks look like sahamalite-(ce)?+
What minerals are found with sahamalite-(ce)?+
What kind of rock does sahamalite-(ce) form in?+
What is sahamalite-(ce) used for?+
Find sahamalite-(ce) on the map
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