| Monazite-(La) | |
| Category: | Phosphate mineral |
| Formula: | LaPO4 |
| Imasymbol: | Mnz-La[1] |
| System: | Monoclinic |
| Class: | Prismatic: 2/m |
| Symmetry: | P21/n |
| Unit Cell: | a = 6.84, b = 7.07, c = 6.45 [Å]; β = β = 103.85◦ |
| References: | [2] [3] |
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]