Wakefieldite-(Ce)

wakefieldite-(Ce)

brewsterite

mottramite

chervetite

Images

Formula: CeVO4
Anhydrous normal vanadate, xenotime group
Specific gravity: 4.76
Hardness: 4½
Streak: Rusty brown
Colour: Black, yellow in transmitted light
Weakly RADIOACTIVE
Environments

Sedimentary environments
Hydrothermal environments

Localities

At the Marron Volcanics of the Olalla Area South-Central British Columbia, Canada, nearly black (burgundy-red at thin edges) crystals of wakefieldite-(Ce) typically consist of tetragonal prisms, tetragonal pyramids or a combination of both. The wakefieldite-(Ce) occurs here in two different associations. In the first association, in the veins, wakefieldite-(Ce) is found on and among brewsterite crystals, which have overgrown strontium-rich heulandite; laumontite and calcite also occur in these veins. In the second association, in the vesicles adjacent to the veins, wakefieldite-(Ce) is accompanied by analcime, mesolite and/or thomsonite (R&M 96.6.527).

At the type locality, the Kusu vanadium deposit, Kongo Central, DR Congo, wakefieldite-(Ce) occurs as black crystals up to 1 mm in size in the oxidised zone in silicified limestone. Associated minerals include mottramite, chervetite, cuprite, dioptase, heyite, malachite, plancheite and vanadinite (AM 62.1058 as kusuite).

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