Bastnäsite
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The mineral bastnäsite is one of a family of three carbonate-fluoride minerals. There is bastnäsite-(Ce) with a formula of (Ce, La)CO3F. There is bastnäsite-(La) with a formula of (La, Ce)CO3F. There is also bastnäsite-(Y) with a formula of (Y, Ce)CO3F. Most bastnäsite is bastnäsite-(Ce), and cerium is by far the most common of the rare earths in this class of minerals. Bastnäsite and the phosphate mineral monazite are the two largest sources of cerium and other rare earth elements. The hardness of bastnäsite ranges from 4 to 4.5. The specific gravity ranges from 4.7 to 5.0, which is above average for a mineral.
See also: List of minerals
 |
This article about a specific mineral, mineraloid, or rock type is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
