monazite-(Ce)

{{Short description|Crystalline CePO4}}

{{infobox mineral

| name = Monazite-(Ce)

| category = Phosphate mineral

| image = Monazite-(Ce)-Quartz-242332.jpg

| imagesize =

| alt =

| caption = 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.

| formula = CePO4

| IMAsymbol = Mnz-Ce{{Cite journal|last=Warr|first=L.N.|date=2021|title=IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols|journal=Mineralogical Magazine|volume=85|issue=3|pages=291–320|doi=10.1180/mgm.2021.43|bibcode=2021MinM...85..291W|s2cid=235729616|doi-access=free}}

| strunz =

| dana =

| system = Monoclinic

| class = Prismatic: 2/m

| symmetry = P21/b

| unit cell = a = 6.7902, b = 7.0203, c = 6.4674 [Å]; β = 103.6°

| color =

| habit =

| twinning =

| cleavage =

| fracture =

| tenacity =

| mohs =

| luster =

| streak =

| diaphaneity =

| gravity =

| density =

| polish =

| opticalprop =

| refractive =

| birefringence =

| pleochroism =

| 2V =

| dispersion =

| extinction =

| length fast/slow =

| fluorescence =

| absorption =

| melt =

| fusibility =

| diagnostic =

| solubility =

| impurities =

| alteration =

| other =

| references = Mindat, Monazite-(Ce), https://www.mindat.org/min-2751.html

}}

Monazite-(Ce) (CePO4) 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). 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.Mindat, Monazite Group, https://www.mindat.org/min-29313.html

References