Monazite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Nd,Th)PO₄

     Monazite-(Ce) is rare mineral at MSH.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is usually green to greenish-brown.
Luster is vitreous to greasy.
Diaphaneity is translucent to opaque.
Crystal System is monoclinic; P2₁n.
Crystal Habits include hexagonal, tabular pseudomorphs to 3mm and
   tabular and wedge-shaped crystals to 2mm forming complex groups.
Cleavage {100} is distinct; {010} is less distinct; {110}, {101} and
   {011} are indistinct.
Fracture is conchoidal to uneven.
Hardness is 5 - 5.5
Specific Gravity is approximately 4.9 g/cm³.
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals include aegirine, albite, catapleiite, chlorite
   group, elpidite, epididymite, rutile and siderite.
Distinguishing Features: Crystal habit, color and luster.
Origin: Named in 1829 from the Greek monazein, to be solitary,
   alluding to its rare occurrence as isolated crystals in the mineral's
   discovery material.

CLASSIFICATION:

REFERENCES:
MinRec 21:323 (1990), Dana 8:722-724 (1997)

DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:

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