Monazite - (Ce)

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(Ce,La,Nd) [PO4]

Trimouns Talc Mine, Luzenac, Ariège, Occitanie, France.

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This Ce-Phosphate is linked to REE-Carbonates mostly Calcite matrix.

 

Crystal size can be up to 10mm. Regarding the content of REE elements Monazite from Trimouns contents mostly Ce, or replaced it by La, Nd; more rare is Gd, Pr, Dy Sm (MOELO et.al. 1974 microsonde results).

Trace amounts of U and Th (coupled with Ca); [more details see MinDat database].

 

Monoclinic Monazite (former Edwardsit) is named in 1829 by Johann Friedrich August Breithaupt from the Greek μουάζω "to be solitary" in allusion to the rarity of its presence in the first known localities. The suffix "Ce" conforms to the Levinson Rule for rare earth minerals, for the cerium dominant member of the monazite series. [quoted of MinDat database]