Perrierite-Ce

specimen number:
2133234

location:
Buer, Bjorkedalen, Vestfold og Telemark, Norway

description:
Black masses of perrierite-ce in matrix with minor pyrochlore. The specimen comes with a previous label from the dealership Minerals Unlimited. Good example for the species.

Perrierite-Ce is a complex rare-earth element (REE) mineral belonging to the chevkinite group, characterized as a titanosilicate of cerium, iron, and titanium. Geologically, it typically occurs as an accessory mineral in alkaline igneous rocks such as syenites, trachytes, and granite pegmatites, as well as in some high-grade metamorphic rocks and volcanic ash beds. It often forms black to dark brown opaque crystals with a resinous or sub-metallic luster, frequently occurring as slender prisms or massive aggregates. Historically, the mineral was first described in 1950 from the coastal sands of Nettuno, Italy, and was named in honor of Carlo Perrier, an Italian mineralogist. Unlike major industrial ores, Perrierite-Ce is rarely mined as a primary commodity but is often encountered during the extraction of other REE-bearing minerals or studied as a petrological indicator of geological environments. While it has been identified at various localities worldwide, including sites in Norway, Russia, and the United States, it remains primarily a mineral of scientific interest for its ability to host significant concentrations of light rare-earth elements within its crystal lattice.

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