Monazite-(Sm)
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Monazite-(Sm)
Formula:
Sm(PO4)
Colour:
White to yellow
Lustre:
Vitreous, Greasy
Specific Gravity:
5.51 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named for its relationship to previously described monazite group species. The suffix/modifier follows the Levinson rule for minerals with essential REE, indicating a predominance of samarium. The root name is from the Greek μουάζειυ "to be solitary" in allusion to the rarity of its (monazite-(Ce)) presence in the first known localities.
Monazite Group. One of three currently (as of April 2024) samarium-dominant minerals beside florencite-(Sm) and allanite-(Sm).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
11438
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:11438:1
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
959302fe-dd80-4eeb-b55a-178845f43bc7
IMA Classification of Monazite-(Sm)
Classification of Monazite-(Sm)
8.AD.50
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mnz-Sm | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Mnz | Kretz (1983) | Kretz, R. (1983) Symbols of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 68, 277–279. |
| Mnz | Siivolam & Schmid (2007) | Siivolam, J. and Schmid, R. (2007) Recommendations by the IUGS Subcommission on the Systematics of Metamorphic Rocks: List of mineral abbreviations. Web-version 01.02.07. IUGS Commission on the Systematics in Petrology. download |
| Mnz | Whitney & Evans (2010) | Whitney, D.L. and Evans, B.W. (2010) Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 95, 185–187 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3371 |
| Mnz | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Monazite-(Sm)
Vitreous, Greasy
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
White to yellow
Streak:
White
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
Density:
5.51 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Monazite-(Sm)
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.768(5) nβ = 1.771(3) nγ = 1.818
2V:
Measured: 29° (8)
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.050
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Very High
Optical Extinction:
X = b, Z ∧ c = 9° (β obtuse).
Comments:
γ calculated. Measured as >1.808.
Chemistry of Monazite-(Sm)
Mindat Formula:
Sm(PO4)
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Monazite-(Sm)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.725 Å, b = 6.936 Å, c = 6.448 Å
β = 104.02°
β = 104.02°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.97 : 1 : 0.93
Unit Cell V:
291.8 ų
Z:
4
Comment:
Space group P21/n.
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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Rotation
Stop | Start
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Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0001703 | Monazite-(Sm) | Ni Y, Hughes J M, Mariano A N (1995) Crystal chemistry of the monazite and xenotime structures Sm(PO4) American Mineralogist 80 21-26 |  | 1995 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.065 Å | (100) |
| 2.857 Å | (90) |
| 4.164 Å | (80) |
| 3.264 Å | (70) |
| 4.647 Å | (50) |
| 5.191 Å | (40) |
| 3.492 Å | (40B) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47) | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 34 : Complex granite pegmatites |
Type Occurrence of Monazite-(Sm)
General Appearance of Type Material:
Tabular crystals ≤0.4 mm in diameter.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
R.B. Ferguson Museum of Mineralogy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada, M7181.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Lepidolite-subtype granitic pegmatite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Monazite-(Sm)
Other Language Names for Monazite-(Sm)
Relationship of Monazite-(Sm) to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
| Monazite-(Ce) | Ce(PO4) | Mon. 2/m |
| Monazite-(La) | La(PO4) | Mon. 2/m |
| Monazite-(Nd) | Nd(PO4) | Mon. 2/m |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 3 photos of Monazite-(Sm) associated with Cleavelandite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| 1 photo of Monazite-(Sm) associated with Lepidolite | |
| 1 photo of Monazite-(Sm) associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.AD. | Keplerite | Ca9(Ca0.5◻0.5)Mg(PO4)7 |
| 8.AD. | Deynekoite | Ca9◻Fe3+(PO4)7 |
| 8.AD. | Mazorite | Ba3(PO4)2 |
| 8.AD. | Monazite-(Gd) | Gd(PO4) |
| 8.AD.05 | Nahpoite | Na2(PO3OH) |
| 8.AD.10 | Monetite | Ca(PO3OH) |
| 8.AD.10 | Weilite | Ca(HAsO4) |
| 8.AD.10 | Švenekite | Ca(H2AsO4)2 |
| 8.AD.15 | Archerite | (K,NH4)(H2PO4) |
| 8.AD.15 | Biphosphammite | NH4(H2PO4) |
| 8.AD.20 | Phosphammite | (NH4)2(PO3OH) |
| 8.AD.25 | Buchwaldite | NaCa(PO4) |
| 8.AD.30 | Schultenite | Pb(HAsO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Chernovite-(Y) | Y(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Dreyerite | Bi(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Wakefieldite-(Ce) | Ce(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Wakefieldite-(Y) | Y(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Xenotime-(Y) | Y(PO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Chernovite-(Ce) | (Ce,Y)(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Pretulite | Sc(PO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Xenotime-(Yb) | Yb(PO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Wakefieldite-(La) | La(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Wakefieldite-(Nd) | Nd(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Xenotime-(Gd) | Gd(PO4) |
| 8.AD.40 | Pucherite | Bi(VO4) |
| 8.AD.45 | Ximengite | Bi(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Gasparite-(Ce) | Ce(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Monazite-(Ce) | Ce(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Monazite-(La) | La(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Monazite-(Nd) | Nd(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Rooseveltite | Bi(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Cheralite | CaTh(PO4)2 |
| 8.AD.50 | UM2005-35-VO:CaFePSiTh | (Th,Ca)(VO4,SiO4,PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Gasparite-(La) | La(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.55 | Tetrarooseveltite | Bi(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.60 | Chursinite | [Hg2]2+Hg2+2[AsO4]2 |
| 8.AD.65 | Clinobisvanite | Bi(VO4) |
| 8.AD.70 | Gurimite | Ba3(VO4)2 |
| 8.AD.75 | Picaite | NaCa[AsO3OH][AsO2(OH)2] |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Monazite-(Sm)
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-11438.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Monazite-(Sm)
Localities for Monazite-(Sm)
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Argentina | |
| M. del Blanco (1996) |
| M. del Blanco et al. (1996) | |
Canada (TL) | |
| Masau et al. (2002) |
Poland | |
| Twardak et al. (2023) |
Russia | |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
Slovakia | |
| Ondrejka et al. (2023) |
USA | |
| Collected by Rudy Bolona +1 other reference |
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Brown Derby No. 1, Brown Derby Mine, Quartz Creek Pegmatite Mining District, Gunnison County, Colorado, USA