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Sahamalite-(Ce)

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Mountain Pass Mine (Mountain Pass deposit; Bastnaesite deposit; Bastnäsite deposit; Mountain Pass carbonatite), Mountain Pass, Clark Mountain Sub-District, Clark Mts (Clark Mountain Range), Ivanpah District (Copper World District), San Bernardino Co., California, USA
© Pavel M. Kartashov




Formula:
(Mg,Fe)(Ce,La,Nd)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless
Name:Named after Thure Georg Sahama, Professor of Geochemistry and Mineralogy, University of Helsinki, Finland.
This page provides mineralogical data about Sahamalite-(Ce).

Classification of Sahamalite-(Ce)

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/B.05-80
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.AD.05

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
D : With rare-earth elements (REE)
Dana 8th edition ID:14.4.2.1

14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
4 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.8.21

11 : Carbonates
8 : Carbonates of the rare earths
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Type Occurrence of Sahamalite-(Ce)

Type Locality:Mountain Pass Mine (Mountain Pass deposit; Bastnaesite deposit; Bastnäsite deposit; Mountain Pass carbonatite), Mountain Pass, Clark Mountain Sub-District, Clark Mts (Clark Mountain Range), Ivanpah District (Copper World District), San Bernardino Co., California, USA
Geological Setting of type material:Accessory in baryte-dolomite-REE carbonatite (type locality).

Physical Properties of Sahamalite-(Ce)

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless
Streak:white
Cleavage:Poor/Indistinct
{010} poor, {201} trace only.
Density (measured):4.30 g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.30 g/cm3

Crystallography of Sahamalite-(Ce)

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P21/b {P1 1 21/b} {P21/c} {P1 21/c 1} {P21/a}
Space Group Setting:P21/a
Cell Parameters:a = 5.894(1) Å, b = 16.116(3) Å, c = 4.612(1) Å
β = 106.54(1)°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.366 : 1 : 0.286
Unit Cell Volume:V 419.96 ų
Z:2
Morphology:Euhedral prisms flattened on {201}, complex morphology showing {110},{120},{010},{131},{011},{012},{142}; in subparallel-radiating aggregates.

Optical Data of Sahamalite-(Ce)

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.679(2) nβ = 1.776(2) nγ = 1.807(2)
2V:Measured: 57° , Calculated: 57°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.128

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:r < v perceptible

Chemical Properties of Sahamalite-(Ce)

Formula:
(Mg,Fe)(Ce,La,Nd)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
Essential elements:C, Ce, Mg, O
All elements listed in formula:C, Ce, Fe, La, Mg, Nd, O

Relationship of Sahamalite-(Ce) to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
5.AD.15Petersenite-(Ce)
Na
 
4
(Ce,La,Nd)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
5
5.AD.15Remondite-(Ce)
Na
 
3
(Ce,La,Ca,Na,Sr)
 
3
(CO
 
3
)
 
5
5.AD.15Remondite-(La)
Na
 
3
(La,Ce)
 
3
(CO
 
3
)
 
5
5.AD.20Paratooite-(La)
(REE,Ca,Na,Sr)
 
12
Cu
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
16
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
11.8.1Calkinsite-(Ce)
(Ce,La)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
 · 4H
 
2
O
11.8.2Lanthanite-(La)
(La,Ce)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
 · 8H
 
2
O
11.8.3Lanthanite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Nd)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
 · 8H
 
2
O
11.8.4Lanthanite-(Nd)
(Nd,La)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
 · 8H
 
2
O
11.8.5Hydroxylbastnäsite-(Ce)
(Ce,La)(CO
 
3
)(OH,F)
11.8.6Hydroxylbastnäsite-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce,La)(CO
 
3
)(OH,F)
11.8.7Hydroxylbastnäsite-(La)
(La,Ce)(CO
 
3
)(F,OH)
11.8.8Remondite-(Ce)
Na
 
3
(Ce,La,Ca,Na,Sr)
 
3
(CO
 
3
)
 
5
11.8.9Tengerite-(Y)
Y
 
2
[CO
 
3
]
 
3
 · 2-3H
 
2
O
11.8.10Kimuraite-(Y)
Ca(Y,Nd)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
 · 6H
 
2
O
11.8.11Lokkaite-(Y)
Ca(Y,Gd,Nd,Dy)
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
7
 · 9H
 
2
O
11.8.12Calcioancylite-(Nd)
Ca(Nd,La,Ce)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
.
H
 
2
O
11.8.13Calcioancylite-(Ce)
(Ca,Sr)Ce(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH) · H
 
2
O
11.8.14Burbankite
(Na,Ca)
 
3
(Sr,Ba,Ce)
 
3
(CO
 
3
)
 
5
11.8.15Khanneshite
(Na,Ca)
 
3
(Ba,Sr,Ce,Ca)
 
3
(CO
 
3
)
 
5
11.8.16Donnayite-(Y)
Sr
 
3
NaCaY(CO
 
3
)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
11.8.17Carbocernaite
(Ca,Na)(Sr,Ce,Ba)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.8.18Ancylite-(Ce)
SrCe(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH) · H
 
2
O
11.8.19Ewaldite
Ba(Ca,Y,Na,K)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.8.20Mckelveyite-(Y)
Ba
 
3
Na(Ca,U)Y(CO
 
3
)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O

Other Names for Sahamalite-(Ce)

Other Languages:
German:Sahamalith-(Ce)
Russian:Сахамалит-(Ce)

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Sahamalite-(Ce)

Reference List:

- +
Jaffe, H.W., et al (1953), Sahamalite, a new rare earth carbonate mineral, American Mineralogist: 38: 721-754.

Pertlik, F. , Preisinger, A. (1983) Crystal structure of sahamalite (Mg,Fe)RE2(CO3)4, Locality: Mountain Pass mine, San Bernardino County, California. Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen: 31: p.39-46.

Internet Links for Sahamalite-(Ce)

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Sahamalite-(Ce) details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Sahamalite-(Ce)

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    Hide Locality List
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    USA
     
    • California
      • San Bernardino Co.
        • Ivanpah District (Copper World District)
          • Clark Mts (Clark Mountain Range)
            • Clark Mountain Sub-District
              • Mountain Pass
    		Jaffe, H.W., et al (1953), Sahamalite, a new rare earth carbonate mineral, American Mineralogist: 38: 741.; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 222; Haxel, G. (2005) Ultrapotassic rocks, carbonatite and rare earth element deposit, Mountain Pass, southern California. In: Geology and Mineral Resources of the Mojava National Preserve, southern California. USGS Bulletin 2160.
    • Wyoming
      • Campbell Co.
        • Reno Junction
    		American Mineralogist, Volume 73, pages 1440-1448, 1988
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