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Monazite-(Nd)
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Monazite-(Nd)
Formula:
Nd(PO4)
Colour:
Bright rose-red
Hardness:
5 - 5½
Specific Gravity:
5.43 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named for its relationship to monazite-(Ce). The suffix/modifier follows the Levinson rule for minerals with essential REE, indicating a predominance of neodymium. 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.
This page provides mineralogical data about Monazite-(Nd).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2753
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2753:9
Similar Names
| Minasite | ||
| Monazit | A synonym of Monazite Group | |
| Monazite-(Ce) | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | Ce(PO4) |
| Monazite-(Ce)-Huttonite Series | A synonym of 'Huttonite-Monazite-(Ce) Series' | |
| Monazite-(Gd) | A valid IMA mineral species | Gd(PO4) |
| Monazite-(La) | A valid IMA mineral species | La(PO4) |
| Monazite-(Sm) | A valid IMA mineral species | Sm(PO4) |
IMA Classification of Monazite-(Nd)
Classification of Monazite-(Nd)
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
38.4.3.5
38 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, AND VANADATES
4 : AXO4
38 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, AND VANADATES
4 : AXO4
19.9.5
19 : Phosphates
9 : Phosphates of rare earths and Sc
19 : Phosphates
9 : Phosphates of rare earths and Sc
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 for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Mnz-Nd | 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-(Nd)
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Bright rose-red
Hardness:
5 - 5½ on Mohs scale
Density:
5.43 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Monazite-(Nd)
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.77 - 1.80 nβ = 1.7705 - 1.802 nγ = 1.83 - 1.85
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.050 - 0.060
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
No measured or calculated 2V is on file for this mineral, so the value used here (18°) is estimated from its recorded refractive indices and optic sign, not from a direct 2V measurement.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
No measured or calculated 2V is on file for this mineral, so the value used here (18°) is estimated from its recorded refractive indices and optic sign, not from a direct 2V measurement.
Dispersion:
extreme
Chemistry of Monazite-(Nd)
Mindat Formula:
Nd(PO4)
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Monazite-(Nd)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/c
Setting:
P21/n
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.745(4) Å, b = 6.964(4) Å, c = 6.435(4) Å
β = 103.65(4)°
β = 103.65(4)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.969 : 1 : 0.924
Unit Cell V:
293.73 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Crystal Structure
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0001702 | Monazite-(Nd) | Ni Y, Hughes J M, Mariano A N (1995) Crystal chemistry of the monazite and xenotime structures Nd(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 |
|---|---|
| 3.080 Å | (100) |
| 3.280 Å | (60) |
| 2.846 Å | (50) |
| 2.425 Å | (40) |
| 4.15 Å | (30) |
| 2.590 Å | (30) |
| 2.177 Å | (30) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 3a: Earth’s earliest Hadean crust | >4.50 |
| 9 : Lava/xenolith minerals (hornfels, sanidinite facies) | |
| Stage 4a: Earth’s earliest continental crust | >4.4-3.0 |
| 19 : Granitic intrusive rocks | |
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47) | |
| 26 : Hadean detrital minerals | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 34 : Complex granite pegmatites | |
| 36 : Carbonatites, kimberlites, and related igneous rocks | |
| Stage 5: Initiation of plate tectonics | <3.5-2.5 |
| 40 : Regional metamorphism (greenschist, amphibolite, granulite facies) |
Type Occurrence of Monazite-(Nd)
General Appearance of Type Material:
Long prismatic crystals, bright rose in colour.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Mineralogical Institute, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Natural History Museum, Basel, Switzerland, 30803.
Natural History Museum, Basel, Switzerland, 30803.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In small fissures in gneiss blocks, or druses of aplitic to pegmatitic veins in a schistose gneiss with abundant white mica.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Monazite-(Nd)
Other Language Names for Monazite-(Nd)
Dutch:Monaziet-(Nd)
German:Monazit-(Nd)
Russian:Монацит-(Nd)
Simplified Chinese:钕独居石
Traditional Chinese:釹獨居石
Relationship of Monazite-(Nd) to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Monazite Group:
| Monazite-(Ce) | Ce(PO4) | Mon. 2/m : P21/c |
| Monazite-(Gd) | Gd(PO4) | Mon. 2/m : P21/c |
| Monazite-(La) | La(PO4) | Mon. 2/m : P21/c |
| Monazite-(Sm) | Sm(PO4) | Mon. 2/m : P21/c |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 3 photos of Monazite-(Nd) associated with Monazite-(Ce) | Ce(PO4) |
| 1 photo of Monazite-(Nd) associated with Monazite-(Sm) | Sm(PO4) |
| 1 photo of Monazite-(Nd) associated with Columbite-(Mn) | Mn2+Nb2O6 |
| 1 photo of Monazite-(Nd) associated with Columbite-(Fe) | Fe2+Nb2O6 |
| 1 photo of Monazite-(Nd) associated with Cassiterite | SnO2 |
| 1 photo of Monazite-(Nd) associated with Oxycalciomicrolite | Ca2Ta2O6O |
| 1 photo of Monazite-(Nd) associated with Pyrochlore Group | A2Nb2(O,OH)6Z |
| 1 photo of Monazite-(Nd) associated with Baryte | BaSO4 |
| 1 photo of Monazite-(Nd) associated with Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| 1 photo of Monazite-(Nd) associated with Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.AD. | 'Unnamed (Monoclinic polymorph of ximengite)' | Bi(PO4) |
| 8.AD. | Keplerite | Ca9(Ca0.5◻0.5)Mg(PO4)7 |
| 8.AD. | Mazorite | Ba3(PO4)2 |
| 8.AD. | Deynekoite | Ca9◻Fe3+(PO4)7 |
| 8.AD. | Monazite-(Gd) | Gd(PO4) |
| 8.AD.05 | Nahpoite | Na2(PO3OH) |
| 8.AD.10 | Weilite | Ca(HAsO4) |
| 8.AD.10 | Švenekite | Ca(H2AsO4)2 |
| 8.AD.10 | Monetite | Ca(PO3OH) |
| 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 | Schulténite | Pb(HAsO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Dreyerite | Bi(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Wakefieldite-(La) | La(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Anningite-(Ce) | (Ca0.5Ce4+0.5)(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Pretulite | Sc(PO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Wakefieldite-(Ce) | Ce(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Wakefieldite-(Y) | Y(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Xenotime-(Yb) | Yb(PO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | 'Chernovite-(Ce)' | (Ce,Y)(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Xenotime-(Gd) | Gd(PO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Chernovite-(Y) | Y(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Xenotime-(Y) | Y(PO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Wakefieldite-(Nd) | Nd(VO4) |
| 8.AD.40 | Pucherite | Bi(VO4) |
| 8.AD.45 | Ximengite | Bi(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | 'UM2005-35-VO:CaFePSiTh' | (Th,Ca)(VO4,SiO4,PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Rooseveltite | Bi(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Gasparite-(Ce) | Ce(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Monazite-(Sm) | Sm(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Monazite-(Ce) | Ce(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Monazite-(La) | La(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Gasparite-(La) | La(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Cheralite | CaTh(PO4)2 |
| 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-(Nd)
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2753.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Monazite-(Nd)
Reference List:
Dunn, P. J.; Cabri, L. J.; Clark, A. M.; Fleischer, M. (1983) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 68 (7-8). 849-852
Jambor, John L., Ercit, Ernst A. J. Burke T. Scott, Grice, Joel D. (1988) New Mineral Names. American Mineralogist, 73 (11-12) 1492-1499 p.1495
Vinogradova, N. S., Shchapova, Yu. V., Votyakov, S. L., Ryzhkov, M. V., Ivanovskii, A. L. (2014) Electronic structure and relative radiation stability of orthophosphates LnPO4 (Ln = Ce, Nd, Sm) Journal of Structural Chemistry, 55 (5) 809-815 doi:10.1134/s0022476614050023
Schlenz, H., Dellen, J., Kegler, P., Gatzen, C., Schreinemachers, C., Shelyug, A., Klinkenberg, M., Navrotsky, A., Bosbach, D. (2019) Structural and thermodynamic mixing properties of La1−xNdxPO4 monazite-type solid solutions. Journal of Solid State Chemistry, 270. 470-478 doi:10.1016/j.jssc.2018.11.040
Localities for Monazite-(Nd)
Showing 54 localities.
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 | |
| Colombo et al. (2011) |
| M. del Blanco (1996) |
| M. del Blanco et al. (1996) | |
Australia | |
| Habibi et al. (2025) |
| Bottrill et al. (2008) |
Austria | |
| Kolitsch (2026) |
| Taucher J. & Hollerer Ch. (2015) |
| Kolitsch et al. (2023) |
Canada | |
| Mitchell et al. (2017) +1 other reference |
| Mitchell et al. (2017) |
China | |
| Guimei Yu and Liangchao Zhao (1988) |
Czech Republic | |
| Scharm et al. (2000) |
DR Congo | |
| Excalibur Mineral Corp. - Mineral News | |
Finland | |
| Al-Ani Thair |
Greece | |
| Uwe Kolitsch (SEM-EDS analyses, to be published) |
| Uwe Kolitsch (SEM-EDS analyses, to be published) |
| Bull. Acad. Serbe Sci. Art |
Italy (TL) | |
| Graeser et al. (1987) |
Japan | |
| 皆川鉄雄 et al. (2001) |
| Imaoka et al. (2024) |
| Minakawa (1986) |
Luxembourg | |
| MnhnL collection |
| MnhnL collection |
Northwest Africa Meteorites | |
| Liu et al. (2016) +1 other reference | |
Norway | |
| Rune S. Selbekk (2010) |
| Rune S. Selbekk (2010) |
Poland | |
| Twardak et al. (2023) |
| Matyszczak (2018) |
| Matyszczak (2018) | |
| Matyszczak (2018) |
| Matyszczak (2018) |
| Matyszczak (2018) | |
| Kozłowski et al. (2016) | |
Romania | |
| Hirtopanu et al. (2000) |
| Hirtopanu et al. (2013) |
Russia | |
| Kovalev et al. (2024) |
| Kasatkin et al. (2019) |
| Pavel M. Kartashov (n.d.) +1 other reference |
| geo.web.ru (2018) |
| Repina (2008) | |
| Kompanchenko et al. (2019) |
| Kovalev et al. (2023) |
Slovakia | |
| Ozdín (2015) |
| Pršek et al. (2010) |
| Ondrejka et al. (2023) |
| Števko et al. (2014) |
South Africa | |
| Atanasova et al. (2016) |
| Hoshino et al. (2014) |
Switzerland | |
| Krzemnicki (1992) |
USA | |
| Färber (n.d.) |
| |
| Hanson et al. (1999) |
| Buchholz (1999) | |
| Hanson et al. (1999) |
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Siglo Veinte Mine, Llallagua, Rafael Bustillo Province, Potosí, Bolivia