Davidite is a rare earth oxide mineral with chemical end members Lanthanum (La) and Cerium (Ce). It exists in two forms:

Davidite-(La)
Davidite-(La) from Kazakhstan
General
CategoryOxide minerals
Formula
(repeating unit)
(La,Ce,Ca)(Y,U)(Ti,Fe3+
)
20
O
38
IMA symbolDvd-La[1]
Strunz classification4.CC.40
Crystal systemTrigonal
Crystal classRhombohedral (3)
H-M symbol: (3)
Space groupR3
Unit cella = 10.376, c = 20.91 [Å]; Z = 3
Identification
ColorBlack
FractureSubconchoidal to uneven
TenacityBrittle
Mohs scale hardness6 [2]
LusterVitreous
DiaphaneityOpaque, translucent in very thin fragments
Specific gravity4.33 to 4.48
Alters toMetamict
Other characteristics Radioactive
References[3][4][5][6]

References

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  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ "Davidite-(La) Mineral Data".
  3. ^ Davidite-La in Handbook of Mineralogy
  4. ^ Davidite-La on Mindat
  5. ^ Davidite-(La) on Webmineral
  6. ^ Davidite-(Ce) on Webmineral
  7. ^ Branagan, D.F. (2005): T.W. Edgeworth David: A Life: Geologist, Adventurer and "Knight in the Old Brown Hat", National Library of Australia, Canberra, p. 471. ISBN 0 642 10791 2