Parisite-(Ce)

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Parisite-(Ce) crystals - click for larger pic
Parisite-(Ce) crystals
© Modris Baum

Parisite-(Ce) crystals - click for larger pic
Parisite-(Ce) crystals
© Modris Baum

Ca(Ce,La)(CO

Parisite-(Ce) is a very rare accessory mineral at MSH. Two trigonal polytypes have been identified, -18T and -72T.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is usually white, beige, pale pink or yellowish-brown.
Luster is resinous to dull.
Diaphaneity is translucent.
Crystal System is hexagonal; P3
Crystal Habits include tiny flakes and rosettes to 1mm and
intergrowth with synchysite to form layered hexagonal tabular
crystals to 4mm.
Cleavage {001} is fair to good.
Fracture is conchoidal to splintery.
Hardness is 4 – 4.5
Specific Gravity is approximately 4.3 g/cm
Streak is pale yellowish-white.
Associated Minerals include aegirine, albite, ancylite, bastnäsite,
biotite, calcite, microcline, pectolite, rhodochrosite and titanite.
Distinguishing Features: Crystal habit (though difficult to identify).
Origin: Named in 1835 after J. J. Paris, the mine owner at the
discovery locality.

CLASSIFICATION:

Dana System
# 16a.1.5.1

Strunz Classification
# V/C.07-70

REFERENCES:
MinRec 21:327 (1990), Dana 8:480-481 (1997)

DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:

MSH
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