Images
Formula: Cs
Element, alkali metal, does not occur in the native state
Specific gravity: 1.873 at 20oC
Colour: Yellow/silvery
Melting point: 28.4oC
Boiling point: 670oC
Abundance: 3 parts per million by mass, 0.5 parts per million by moles in the Earth's crust, 8 parts per billion by
Mass, 70 parts per trillion by moles in the Solar System
(ChC).
Cesium is an extremely reactive metal and the most alkaline of the elements. It reacts explosively upon contact with
water producing cesium hydroxide (CsOH), an extremely strong base that can rapidly corrode glass
(ChC).
Cesium-bearing minerals include:
Oxides
cesiokenopyrochlore
Sulphates
cesiodymite
chinleite-(Ce)
Vanadates
margaritasite
Inosilicates - single chain
kupletskite-(Cs)
Phyllosilicates
fluorapophyllite-(Cs)
garmite
kreiterite
odigitriaite
sokolovaite
telyushenkoite
zeravshanite
Tectosilicates
kirchhoffite
Unclassified Silicates
mendeleevite-(Ce)
Oxides - the oxide anion is O2-
Sulphates - the sulphate anion is (SO4)2-
Vanadates - the vanadate anion is (V5+O4)3-
Inosilicates - single chain - (Si4+nO3n)2n- groups
Phyllosilicates - (Si4+2O5)2- groups
Tectosilicate - [Al3+xSi4+OyO(2x+2y)]x−
Unclassified silicates
Back to Minerals