Florencite

Formula:  CeAl3(PO4)2(OH)6

Origin of name:  For W. Florence, Brazilian mineralogist

 

Crystal system:  Hexagonal

Crystal class:  -3 2/m

Twinning:

Unit cell: a = 6.96 Ǻ, c = 16.33 Ǻ

 

Colour:  Pink, pale yellow

Diaphaneity:  Transparent to translucent

Luster:  Resinous to greasy

Habit:  Crystals rhombohedral or pseudocubic; small, rounded grains, submicroscopic

Hardness:  5 to 6

Specific gravity:  3.46 to 3.

Cleavage:  2; {0001} good, {11-20} traces

Tenacity:

Streak:

 

Synonyms/varieties:

 

Comments:  Three distinct species with the extensions -(Ce), -(La) and -(Nd) indicating the predominent rare earth cation in the formula.

 

Back to Alphabetical list Colour photos - florencite-(Ce), florencite-(La) Thin sections SEM images TEM images vibrational spectra description IR spectra Raman spectra N-IR spectra F-IR spectra IES spectra