Monazite-(Sm)

Monazite-(Sm)
General
CategoryPhosphate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
SmPO4
IMA symbolMnz-Sm[1]
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal classPrismatic: 2/m
Space groupP21/m
Unit cella = 6.725, b = 6.936, c = 6.448 Å; β = 104.02°
Identification
References[2]

Monazite-(Sm) is an exceedingly rare representative of the monazite group, with samarium being the dominant rare earth element in its structure. It is the samarium analogue of monazite-(Ce), monazite-(La), and monazite-(Nd). It is only the second known mineral with samarium being the mineral-forming element, after florencite-(Sm).[3] 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.[4]

  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-(Sm), https://www.mindat.org/min-11438.html
  3. ^ Mindat, Monazite-(Sm), https://www.mindat.org/min-11438.html
  4. ^ Mindat, Monazite Group, https://www.mindat.org/min-29313.html