Monazite-(La) is a relatively rare representative of the monazite group, with lanthanum being the dominant rare earth element in its structure. As such, it is the lanthanum analogue of monazite-(Ce), monazite-(Nd), and monazite-(Sm). It is also the phosphorus analogue of gasparite-(La).[4] The group contains simple rare earth phosphate minerals with the general formula of ATO4, where A = Ce, La, Nd, or Sm (or, rarely, Bi), and B = P or, rarely, As. The A site may also bear Ca and Th.[5]

Monazite-(La)
General
CategoryPhosphate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
LaPO4
IMA symbolMnz-La[1]
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal classPrismatic: 2/m
Space groupP21/n
Unit cella = 6.84, b = 7.07, c = 6.45 [Å]; β = β = 103.85◦
Identification
References[2][3]

References

edit
  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ Mindat, Monazite-(La), https://www.mindat.org/min-2752.html
  3. ^ Handbook of Mineralogy, Monazite-(La), http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/monazite-(La).pdf
  4. ^ Mindat, Monazite-(La), https://www.mindat.org/min-2752.html
  5. ^ Mindat, Monazite Group, https://www.mindat.org/min-29313.html