Chinese scientists discover cerium-rich silicate

The China Geological Survey of the Ministry of Natural Resources announced on Friday that a group of Chinese scientists had discovered a new silicate mineral richest in cerium from a rare earth mine in Henan Province.
The mineral had been approved by the International Mineralogical Association and was named Ni Pei Stone in honor of Professor Ni Pei, a prominent Chinese geologist. The stone is a cerium-containing mineral with color ranging from light red to reddish-brown.
Cerium is a rare-earth mineral and is mainly used for new materials. It can be widely used in strategic and emerging industries, according to the Deputy Director of the Tianjin Center of the China Geological Survey. It holds the record for the highest cerium content among silicate minerals discovered in nature, and has a great scientific value in the field of new materials.