Cordylite-(Ce)
BaCe₂(CO₃)₃F₂

     Mont Saint-Hilaire is the second locality for cordylite-(Ce). It can be found in exceptional crystals to 2cm in length. Many of the crystals have a transparent interior, while appearing dull and opaque on the exterior. The layered structure and perfect basal cleavage is evident in all crystal habits.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color varies yellow to brownish-yellow and orange-yellow.
Luster is dull to greasy to vitreous.
Diaphaneity is transparent to translucent to opaque.
Crystal System is hexagonal (dihexagonal bipyramidal); P6₃/mmc.
Crystal Habits include hexagonal prisms to 10mm, thin hexagonal
   plates to 3mm; and hemimorphic hexagonal crystals.
Cleavage: {001} is good.
Fracture is conchoidal.
Hardness is 4.5
Specific Gravity is approximately 4.0g/cm³.
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals include aegirine, albite, ashcroftine, bastnäsite,
   brookite, calcite, elpidite, leucosphenite, lorenzenite, narsarsukite and
   quartz.
Distinguishing Features: Crystal habit.
Origin: Named in 1898 from Greek kordyn, the club (kordoni, string),
   alluding to the shape of its crystals.

CLASSIFICATION:

REFERENCES:
MinRec 21:303 (1990), Dana 8:481-482 (1997), AmMin 83:178-184 (1998)

DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:

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