Cerite-(Ce)
Ce₉(?,Ca)(Fe³⁺,Mg)(SiO₄)₆(SiO₃OH)(OH,F)₃

     Cerite-(Ce) is yet another extremely rare species at Mont Saint-Hilaire. The crystals may be rounded on the corners. Visual identification is sometimes difficult with catapleiite and an unusual platy habit of rhodochrosite.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color ranges from rose-red to pink.
Luster is vitreous.
Diaphaneity is transparent.
Crystal System is hexagonal; R3c.
Crystal Habits include hexagonal plates forming rosette-like groups.
Cleavage is not apparent.
Fracture is uneven.
Hardness is 5.5
Specific Gravity is approximately 4.7 - 4.9 g/cm³.
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals include aegirine, albite, apatite group, calcite,
   catapleiite, fluorite, helvite, microcline, natrolite and tundrite.
Distinguishing Features: Crystal habit and color.
Origin: Named in 1803 to honor the discovery in 1801 of the
   asteroid Ceres.

CLASSIFICATION:

REFERENCES:
MinRec 21:302-303 (1990), Dana 8:1097 (1997)

DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:

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