Rhabdophane-(Ce)

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Rhabdophane-(Ce) crystals - click for larger pic
Rhabdophane-(Ce) crystals
R. O. M. specimen #44890
Photo by Violet Anderson
© Royal Ontario Museum

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

CePO · H

Rhabdophane-(Ce) is a rare phosphate mineral at MSH.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is usually pale yellow-brown, tan, beige and brown.
Luster is dull to greasy.
Diaphaneity is translucent to opaque.
Crystal System is hexagonal; P622.
Crystal Habits include hexagonal prisms to 6mm, botyroidal
aggregates and interstitial fillings.
Cleavage none observed.
Fracture is uneven.
Hardness is 3.5
Specific Gravity is approximately 4.0 g/cm
Streak is yellowish.
Associated Minerals include aegirine, albite, amphibole group,
ancylite, astrophyllite, biotite, calcite, microcline, natrolite,
rhodochrosite and sérandite.
Distinguishing Features: Crystal habit.
Origin: Named in 1878 from the Greek rhabdos, a rod, plus
phainesthai, to appear, alluding to its characteristic spectral
absorption bands due to REE presence.

CLASSIFICATION:

Dana System
# 40.4.7.1

Strunz Classification
# VII/C.29-10

REFERENCES:
MinRec 21:331 (1990), Dana 8:807 (1997)

DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:

MSH
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Rhabdophane-(Ce) crystals - click for larger pic
Rhabdophane-(Ce) crystals
© Doug Merson

Rhabdophane-(Ce) crystals - click for larger pic
Rhabdophane-(Ce) crystals
© Bill Lechner