General Information:
Chemical Formula:
(Nd,Ce)(Ti,Nb)2(O,OH)6
Composition:
(Molecular Weight = 346.61 gm)
Cerium 16.17 % Ce
Titanium 24.17 % Ti
Niobium 6.70 % Nb
Hydrogen 0.29 % H
Neodymium 24.97 % Nd
Oxygen 27.70 % O
Empirical Formula:
Nd0.6Ce0.4Ti1.75Nb0.25O5(OH)
IMA Status:
Approved IMA 1983
Locality:
TL: China, Inner Mongolia, Bayan Obo
Name Origin:
Named for its composition and from the Greek for "shame," in allusion to the inability of chemists, at the time of its discovery, to separate some of its constituents.
Physical Properties:
Cleavage:
None
Color:
brown.
Density:
4.6 - 5.04, Average = 4.82
Diaphaniety:
Subtranslucent
Habits:
Radial - Crystals radiate from a center without producing stellar forms (e.g. stibnite), Metamict - Mineral originally crystalline, now amorphous due to radiation damage.,
Hardness:
5-6 - Between Apatite and Orthoclase
Luster:
Adamantine
Streak:
brown
More details...