A mineral composed of cerium silicate, typically reddish-brown in color, found in certain granitic rocks and used as a source of rare earth elements.
From cerium (the element) + -ite (mineral suffix). Cerium was named after the asteroid Ceres, which was itself named after the Roman goddess of agriculture.
Cerites contains cerium, a rare earth element that powers your phone's vibrator, headphones, and permanent magnets—all because ancient astronomers named an asteroid after a goddess.
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