Cerianite-(Ce) is a relatively rare

oxide An oxide () is a chemical compound that contains at least one oxygen atom and one other element in its chemical formula. "Oxide" itself is the dianion of oxygen, an O2– (molecular) ion. with oxygen in the oxidation state of −2. Most of the E ...

mineral, belonging to uraninite group with the formula . It is one of a few currently known minerals containing essential tetravalent cerium, the other examples being stetindite and

dyrnaesite-(La) Dyrnaesite-(La) is a rare-earth phosphate mineral with the formula . Dyrnaesite-(La) is related to vitusite-(Ce), another rare-earth phosphate mineral. It comes from lujavrite, a type of alkaline syenite rock, of South Greenland. Dyrnaesite-(La ...

Occurrence and association

Cerianite-(Ce) is associated with alkaline rocks, mostly nepheline syenites. It may be found in carbonatites. Cerianite-(Ce) associates with minerals of the

apatite Apatite is a group of phosphate minerals, usually hydroxyapatite, fluorapatite and chlorapatite, with high concentrations of OH−, F− and Cl− ions, respectively, in the crystal. The formula of the admixture of the three most common e ...

group, bastnäsite-group minerals,

calcite Calcite is a Carbonate minerals, carbonate mineral and the most stable Polymorphism (materials science), polymorph of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). It is a very common mineral, particularly as a component of limestone. Calcite defines hardness 3 on ...

, feldspar, "fluocerite", "hydromica", ilmenite, nepheline, magnetite, "törnebohmite" and tremolite. It is the most simple cerium mineral known.

Notes on chemistry

Beside thorium cerianite-(Ce) may contain trace

niobium Niobium is a chemical element with chemical symbol Nb (formerly columbium, Cb) and atomic number 41. It is a light grey, crystalline, and ductile transition metal. Pure niobium has a Mohs hardness rating similar to pure titanium, and it has sim ...

, yttrium, lanthanum, ytterbium, zirconium and tantalum.

Crystal structure

For details on crystal structure see cerium(IV) oxide. Both ceria and

thoria ''Thoria'' is a genus of shield bugs in the tribe Podopini Podopinae, known as turtle bugs, are a subfamily of the insect family Pentatomidae. The type genus is '' Podops''. Tribes and Genera ''BioLib'' lists: Brachycerocorini Auth. Davidova ...

have a fluorite structure.

References

Oxide minerals Cerium minerals Lanthanide minerals Cubic minerals Minerals in space group 225 {{oxide-mineral-stub