| Monazite-(Ce) | |
|---|---|
-Quartz-242332.jpg) Monazite-(Ce), Quartz.
Locality: Siglo Veinte Mine (Siglo XX Mine; Llallagua Mine; Catavi), Llallagua, Rafael Bustillo Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia (Locality at mindat.org). Size: 3.5 × 2.6 × 1.3 cm. | |
| General | |
| Category | Phosphate mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | CePO4 |
| IMA symbol | Mnz-Ce[1] |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
| Crystal class | Prismatic: 2/m |
| Space group | P21/b |
| Unit cell | a = 6.7902, b = 7.0203, c = 6.4674 [Å]; β = 103.6° |
| Identification | |
| References | [2] |
Monazite-(Ce) is the most common representative of the monazite group. It is the cerium-dominant analogue of monazite-(La), monazite-(Nd), and monazite-(Sm). It is also the phosphorus analogue of gasparite-(Ce).[3] The group contains simple rare earth phosphate minerals with the general formula of AXO4, where A = Ce, La, Nd, or Sm (or, rarely, Bi), and X = P or, rarely, As. The A site may also bear Ca and Th.[4]
