Britholite-(Ce)
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Britholite-(Ce)
Formula:
(Ce,Ca)5(SiO4)3OH
Colour:
Colorless, pale pink to pink, pale blue, brown, greenish brown, yellow, resin brown, black.
Lustre:
Vitreous, Greasy
Hardness:
5½
Specific Gravity:
4.20 - 4.69
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Member of:
Name:
First found by Gustav Flink in 1897 in a nepheline-syenite pegmatite at Naujakasik, Ilimaussaq complex, Greenland, and provisionally named "a cappelenite-like mineral". Described and named by Chr. Winther (1901). Named after the greek βρῖθος (brithos) for weight, refering to the high specific gravity of the mineral. Later it was renamed as britholite-(Ce) as part of the changes in nomenclature for rare-earth minerals (Levinson 1966). The suffix "-(Ce)" refers to the dominance of cerium in the composition.
A mineral in the Britholite Group of the Apatite Supergroup. The mineral is typically Th-bearing and often metamict.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
775
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:775:3
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
3758dba4-109c-417a-8902-fe4db8c2201a
IMA Classification of Britholite-(Ce)
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA status notes:
Renamed by the IMA
IMA Formula:
(Ce,Ca)5(SiO4)3(OH)
First published:
1901
Approval history:
Renamed 1987.
Classification of Britholite-(Ce)
9.AH.25
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
H : Nesosilicates with CO3, SO4, PO4, etc.
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
H : Nesosilicates with CO3, SO4, PO4, etc.
52.4.9.1
52 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups and O,OH,F,H2O
4 : Insular SiO4 Groups and O, OH, F, and H2O with cations in [6] and/or >[6] coordination
52 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups and O,OH,F,H2O
4 : Insular SiO4 Groups and O, OH, F, and H2O with cations in [6] and/or >[6] coordination
17.6.15
17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
6 : Silicates with phosphate
17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
6 : Silicates with phosphate
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Bri-Ce | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Bri | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Britholite-(Ce)
Vitreous, Greasy
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent, Opaque
Colour:
Colorless, pale pink to pink, pale blue, brown, greenish brown, yellow, resin brown, black.
Hardness:
5½ on Mohs scale
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
4.20 - 4.69 g/cm3 (Measured) 4.65 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Britholite-(Ce)
Type:
Uniaxial (+/-)
RI values:
nω = 1.770 nε = 1.810
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.040
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Very High
Chemistry of Britholite-(Ce)
Mindat Formula:
(Ce,Ca)5(SiO4)3OH
Crystallography of Britholite-(Ce)
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6/m - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P63/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.61(2) Å, c = 7.03(2) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.732
Unit Cell V:
562.25 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Forms: Hexagonal prism {1010}, pyramid {1011} and prism {1120} (from type description). Prismatic crystals.
Comment:
Some studied samples are monoclinic pseudo-hexagonal with spacegroup P21.
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0011042 | Britholite-(Ce) | Noe D C, Hughes J M, Mariano A N, Drexler J W, Kato A (1993) The crystal structure of monoclinic britholite-(Ce) and britholite-(Y) Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 206 233-246 |  | 1993 | the Kipawa syenite gneiss complex | 0 | 293 |
| 0011043 | Britholite-(Ce) | Noe D C, Hughes J M, Mariano A N, Drexler J W, Kato A (1993) The crystal structure of monoclinic britholite-(Ce) and britholite-(Y) Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 206 233-246 | | 1993 | the Kipawa syenite gneiss complex | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.836 Å | (vs) |
| 3.480 Å | (s) |
| 2.809 Å | (s) |
| 1.858 Å | (s) |
| 4.116 Å | (m) |
| 3.927 Å | (m) |
| 3.211 Å | (m) |
Comments:
Sample from Oka, Canada
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks |
Type Occurrence of Britholite-(Ce)
General Appearance of Type Material:
Brown, apparently hexagonal prisms embedded in a nepheline-syenite pegmatite matrix.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
The Natural History Museum, London, England, 85379.
The Natural History Museum, London, England, 85379.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Nepheline-syenite pegmatite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Britholite-(Ce)
Other Language Names for Britholite-(Ce)
Russian:Бритолит-(Ce)
Лессингит-(Ce)
Лессингит-(Ce)
Spanish:Ce-Britholita
Pravdita
Pravdita
Varieties of Britholite-(Ce)
| Aluminian Britholite | An Al-bearing variety of Britholite-(Ce). |
| Cefluosil | A phosphate-free Britholite |
| Thorian Britholite-(Ce) | Britholite Group . |
Relationship of Britholite-(Ce) to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
| Britholite-(La) | Ca2(La,Ce,Ca)3(SiO4,PO4)3(OH,F) | |
| Britholite-(Y) | (Y,Ca)5(SiO4)3OH | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
| Calciobritholite | (Ca,Y)5(SiO4,PO4)3(OH) | |
| Fluorbritholite-(Ce) | (Ce,Ca)5(SiO4)3F | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
| Fluorbritholite-(Nd) | Ca2Nd3(SiO4)3F | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
| Fluorbritholite-(Y) | (Y,Ca)5(SiO4)3F | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
| Fluorcalciobritholite | (Ca,REE)5(SiO4,PO4)3F | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
| Tritomite-(Ce) | Ce5(SiO4,BO4)3(OH,O) | |
| Tritomite-(Y) | Y5(SiO4,BO4)3(O,OH,F) |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 11 photos of Britholite-(Ce) associated with Titanite | CaTi(SiO4)O |
| 10 photos of Britholite-(Ce) associated with Pyrochlore Group | A2Nb2(O,OH)6Z |
| 9 photos of Britholite-(Ce) associated with Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| 9 photos of Britholite-(Ce) associated with Zircon | Zr(SiO4) |
| 9 photos of Britholite-(Ce) associated with Aegirine | NaFe3+Si2O6 |
| 8 photos of Britholite-(Ce) associated with Augite | (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6 |
| 7 photos of Britholite-(Ce) associated with Allanite-(Ce) | (CaCe)(AlAlFe2+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| 7 photos of Britholite-(Ce) associated with Sodalite | Na4(Si3Al3)O12Cl |
| 6 photos of Britholite-(Ce) associated with Bastnäsite-(La) | La(CO3)F |
| 5 photos of Britholite-(Ce) associated with Allanite-(La) | (CaLa)(AlAlFe2+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.AH. | Fluorbritholite-(Nd) | Ca2Nd3(SiO4)3F |
| 9.AH.05 | Iimoriite-(Y) | Y2[SiO4][CO3] |
| 9.AH.10 | Tundrite-(Ce) | Na2Ce2Ti(SiO4)(CO3)2O2 |
| 9.AH.10 | Tundrite-(Nd) | Na2(Nd,Ce)2Ti(SiO4)(CO3)2O2 |
| 9.AH.15 | Spurrite | Ca5(SiO4)2(CO3) |
| 9.AH.15 | Galuskinite | Ca7(SiO4)3(CO3) |
| 9.AH.20 | Ternesite | Ca5(SiO4)2(SO4) |
| 9.AH.20 | Silicocarnotite | Ca5[(SiO4)(PO4)](PO4) |
| 9.AH.25 | Britholite-(Y) | (Y,Ca)5(SiO4)3OH |
| 9.AH.25 | Chlorellestadite | Ca5(SiO4)1.5(SO4)1.5Cl |
| 9.AH.25 | Fluorbritholite-(Ce) | (Ce,Ca)5(SiO4)3F |
| 9.AH.25 | Fluorellestadite | Ca5(SiO4)1.5(SO4)1.5F |
| 9.AH.25 | Hydroxylellestadite | Ca5(SiO4)1.5(SO4)1.5(OH) |
| 9.AH.25 | Mattheddleite | Pb5(SiO4)1.5(SO4)1.5(Cl,OH) |
| 9.AH.25 | Tritomite-(Ce) | Ce5(SiO4,BO4)3(OH,O) |
| 9.AH.25 | Tritomite-(Y) | Y5(SiO4,BO4)3(O,OH,F) |
| 9.AH.25 | Fluorcalciobritholite | (Ca,REE)5(SiO4,PO4)3F |
| 9.AH.25 | Fluorbritholite-(Y) | (Y,Ca)5(SiO4)3F |
| 9.AH.25 | Britholite-(La) | Ca2(La,Ce,Ca)3(SiO4,PO4)3(OH,F) |
| 9.AH.25 | Calciobritholite | (Ca,Y)5(SiO4,PO4)3(OH) |
| 9.AH.35 | Nabimusaite | KCa12(SiO4)4(SO4)2O2F |
| 9.AH.35 | Dargaite | BaCa12(SiO4)4(SO4)2O3 |
| 9.AH.40 | Zadovite | BaCa6[(SiO4)(PO4)](PO4)2F |
| 9.AH.40 | Gazeevite | BaCa6(SiO4)2(SO4)2O |
| 9.AH.40 | Stracherite | BaCa6(SiO4)2[(PO4)(CO3)]2F |
| 9.AH.45 | Flamite | Ca8-x(Na,K)x(SiO4)4-x(PO4)x |
| 9.AH.50 | Byzantievite | Ba5(Ca,REE,Y)22(Ti,Nb)18(SiO4)4[(PO4),(SiO4)]4(BO3)9O22[(OH),F]43(H2O)1.5 |
| 9.AH.55 | Greenwoodite | (Ba,V3+O)2V3+9(Fe3+,Fe2+)2Si2O22 |
| 9.AH.60 | Kihlmanite-(Ce) | Ce2TiO2(SiO4)(HCO3)2(H2O) |
| 9.AH.65 | Tsangpoite | Ca5(PO4)2(SiO4) |
| 9.AH.70 | Enalite | (Th,REE,Al) [(PO4),(SiO4),(OH)] |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Britholite-(Ce)
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-775.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
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Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Britholite-(Ce)
Reference List:
Nickel, Ernest H., Mandarino, Joseph A. (1987) Procedures involving the IMA Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names and guidelines on mineral nomenclature. American Mineralogist, 72 (9-10) 1031-1042
Localities for Britholite-(Ce)
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Angola | |
| Gonçalves +1 other reference |
| L. Torró et al. (2012) |
Argentina | |
| Urbina Nilda +1 other reference |
| Lira et al. (Ed. E.O. Zappettini) | |
Australia | |
| Brugger et al. (2006) |
| implications for ore genesis. Neues ... +2 other references |
Brazil | |
| Azzi (2017) |
| Azzi (2019) | |
| Chris D. Parkinson et al. | |
| Vilalva et al. (2010) |
| de Barros Gomes et al. (2017) |
Canada | |
| Kyla M. Arden and Norman M. Halden (1999) |
| Chafe (2015) |
| GSC locality database | |
| GSC locality database +1 other reference |
| SHEARD et al. (2012) |
| D. Robert Pinckston (1995) +1 other reference |
| McLaughlin (1990) |
| Kenneth L. Currie and Otto van Breemen (1996) |
| Sabina (1983) |
| GOLD (1972) | |
| Gold (1969) +1 other reference | |
| Pavel M. Kartashov 2018 | |
| Liu (1993) | |
| Horváth et al. (1990) |
| Horváth Collection - confirmed by ... |
| Petrella (2013) |
China | |
| Qiang Wang et al. (2003) |
| Zhang Peishan et al. (1996) |
| Zonglin Hou (1989) +1 other reference |
| Ma et al. (2022) +1 other reference |
| Orris et al. (2002) +1 other reference |
| Yang et al. (2006) |
| Orris et al. (2002) |
| Wang +1 other reference |
| Wang et al. (2023) +1 other reference |
Finland | |
| Ani et al. (2013) |
| Al-Ani Thair |
Germany | |
| www.mindat.org (2008) +1 other reference |
Germany/Belgium | |
| Knute Eldjarn | |
Greenland | |
| Cegiełka et al. (2019) |
| Danoe et al. (1959) |
| Karup-Møller et al. (2017) | |
| Bøggild (1953) |
| Winther (1901) +1 other reference |
| Collection of NHM +1 other reference | |
Guinea | |
| Parodi et al. (2004) +1 other reference |
Hungary | |
| Nagy et al. (2003) |
India | |
| Bhushan (2015) |
| Srivastava (1989) +5 other references |
Italy | |
| Orlandi et al. (1989) |
| Balassone et al. (2013) +1 other reference | |
| Russo et al. (2004) |
| Federico et al. (2002) |
| Mattei et al. (2009) |
| American Mineralogist |
| Della Ventura et al. (1999) +3 other references | |
| "Giorgio Bortolozzi (visual identification) | |
| Stoppa et al. (2019) |
| Bortolozzi (n.d.) |
| Ciriotti et al. (2011) | |
| Lapis 28 (12) | |
| Gianfranco Ciccolini Collection |
Kazakhstan | |
| Kogaro et al (1995) |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
Madagascar | |
| Wolfgang Hampel (2011) |
Malawi | |
| Orris et al. (2002) |
Mongolia | |
| G.S. Ripp data +1 other reference |
| Pavel M. Kartashov analytical data (2012) | |
| Ripp +6 other references |
Morocco | |
| Khadem Allah (1993) |
Namibia | |
| Blancher (2008) |
North Korea | |
| Takubo (1941) |
Norway | |
| Andersen et al. (1996) |
| Larsen et al. (2005) | |
| Peter Andresen collection. |
| Larsen et al. (1976) |
| Burvald (1993) | |
| Burvald (1993) |
| Knut Eldjarn Collection +1 other reference |
| Berge (n.d.) |
| Knut Eldjarn Collection |
| Berge (n.d.) | |
| Berge (n.d.) | |
| Andersen (1993) |
| Andresen (2011) |
| Berge (1993) | |
| Berge (n.d.) |
| Larsen (1988) |
| Larsen et al. (2015) |
| |
| Larsen et al. (2010) |
| Berge (n.d.) | |
| Andersen et al. (1996) | |
| Engvoldsen et al. (1991) | |
| Knut Edvard Larsen collection and ... | |
| Collection of Peter Andresen +1 other reference | |
| Andersen et al. (1996) | |
| Berge (n.d.) | |
| Larsen et al. (2010) | |
| Berge (n.d.) | |
| Knut Edvard Larsen collection (MM-1381) | |
| Knut Edvard Larsen collection and ... |
| Berge (n.d.) |
| Knut Edvard Larsen (2023) |
| Knut Edvard Larsen collection (MM-5171) | |
| Berge (n.d.) | |
| Berge et al. (1976) +1 other reference | |
Poland | |
| Domańska-Siuda et al. (2022) |
Portugal | |
| Lavarde et al. (2019) |
| Pedro Alves collection and analytical ... |
| Pedro Alves collection and analytical ... |
Romania | |
| Hirtopanu Paulina et al. (2013) |
Russia | |
| Doroshkevich et al. (2012) |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) +3 other references |
| webmineral.ru (2016) |
| The Canadian Mineralogist Vol. 44 (2006) |
| I.I. Kupriyanova Mineralogy of ... |
| Kalyago et al. (1990) |
| Chakhmouradian et al. (2002) |
| Mikhailova et al. (2007) |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
| Konopleva et al. (2008) |
| ... | |
| Pakhomovsky et al. (2014) |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
| Bazai et al. (2009) |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) +2 other references | |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
| Kapustin Yu.L. (1989) |
South Africa | |
| Mitchell et al. (2006) |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) | |
| Rozendaa et al. (2012) |
South Korea | |
| Jitsutaro Takubo (1941) |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
Spain | |
| Ковальчук et al. (2014) +1 other reference |
| Mangas J. et al. (1996) |
| Dill et al. (2023) |
| E. Salvioli-mariani et al. |
| Prado-Herrero (2009) |
Sweden | |
| Thulin (1996) +1 other reference |
Ukraine | |
| Morozewicz (1904) |
| Dubyna O.V. et al. (2020) | |
| L. N. Kogarko et al. (1995) |
USA | |
| www.koeln.netsurf.de (2001) |
| |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| |
| USGS Open File report 2010-5220 |
| Smith et al. (2000) |
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Almenningen Quarry, Tvedalen, Larvik, Vestfold, Norway