Dollaseite-(Ce)

Dollaseite-(Ce)
General
CategorySilicate mineral
FormulaCaCeMg2AlSi3O11F(OH)
IMA symbolDls-Ce
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal classPrismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)
Space groupP21/m
Identification
Formula mass551.04 g/mol
ColorBrown
Crystal habitMassive, somewhat prismatic, equant when subhedral
TwinningOn [100]
CleavageIndistinct, epidote has one good cleavage on one side
FractureFlat regular to uneven
Mohs scale hardness6.5–7
LusterVitreous
Streaklight brown
DiaphaneityTranslucent
Specific gravity3.9
Optical propertiesBiaxial (+)
Refractive indexnα = 1.715 nβ = 1.718 nγ = 1.733
Birefringenceδ = 0.018
PleochroismStrong
References

Dollaseite-(Ce) is a sorosilicate end-member epidote rare-earth mineral which was discovered by Per Geijer (1927) in the Ostanmossa mine (Östanmossa gruva), Norberg district, Sweden. Dollaseite-(Ce), although not very well known, is part of a broad epidote group of minerals which are primarily silicates, the most abundant type of minerals on earth. Dollaseite-(Ce) forms as dark-brown subhedral crystals primarily in Swedish mines. With the ideal chemical formula, CaREE3+
Mg
2
AlSi
3
O
11
,(OH)F
, dollaseite-(Ce) can be partially identified by its content of the rare earth element cerium.