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ClassicGems.net |
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Parisite |
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Discovered in 1835; IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered) |
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Chemistry |
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Ca(Ce,La)2(CO3)3F2 |
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Calcium Cerium Lanthanum Carbonare Fluoride |
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Molecular Weight: |
537.24 gm |
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Composition: |
Calcium |
7.46 % |
Ca |
10.44 % |
CaO |
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Lanthanum |
23.27 % |
La |
27.29 % |
La2O3 |
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Cerium |
28.69 % |
Ce |
33.60 % |
Ce2O3 |
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Carbon |
6.71 % |
C |
24.58 % |
CO2 |
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Oxygen |
26.80 % |
O |
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Fluorine |
7.07 % |
F |
7.07 % |
F |
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- % |
F |
-2.98 % |
-O=F2 |
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100.00 % |
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100.00 % |
= TOTAL OXIDE |
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Classification |
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Carbonates |
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5/C.07-70 |
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5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
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Related to: |
The Ce-analogue of Parisite-(Nd) and Unnamed (La-analogue of Parisite-(Ce)). |
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Varieties: |
None |
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Synonyms: |
None |
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Crystal Data |
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Trigonal - Pyramidal (Monoclinic - Pseudohexagonal) |
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Steep doubly-terminated pyramidal crystals, to 24 cm; many forms, but oscillatory and sceptered due to intergrowths with bastnasite-(Ce), synchysite-(Ce), rontgenite-(Ce), cordylite. |
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None |
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Physical Properties |
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Distinct on {0001} |
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Splintery to Sub-Conchoidal |
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Brittle |
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4.5 |
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4.33 - 4.39 (g/cm3) |
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Non-fluorescent; may exhibit dark red cathodoluminescence |
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Weak; GRapi = 50,156.22 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units) |
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Other: |
Soluble in hot strong acids. |
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Optical Properties |
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Brownish yellow, orange, orange-brown, brown, wax-yellow, grayish yellow, lilac; colorless to yellow in transmitted light |
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Transparent to translucent |
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Vitreous to resinous, pearly on {0001} parting |
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1.676 - 1.757 Uniaxial ( + ) |
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0.0810 |
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n/a |
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Weak; O = Light yellow, E = Golden yellow |
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Occurances |
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Geological Setting: |
An accessory mineral in differentiated alkalic massifs, granite pegmatites, and RE-rich carbonatites. |
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Common Associations: |
Bastnäsite, Synchysite, Cordylite, Ancylite, Calcite, Fluorite, Quartz |
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Common Impurities: |
None |
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Type Locality: |
Muzo, Vasquez-Yacopi Mining District, Boyacá Department, Colombia |
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Year Discovered: |
1835 |
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View mineral photos: |
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More Information |
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Parisite was named for J.J. Paris, former manager of the Muzo emerald mine, Muzo, Colombia. Parisite is one of a few rare earth carbonate minerals that also includes Bastnäsite and Burbankite. Parisite contains cerium and lanthanum in its chemical formula. Parisite is a very rare gem and usually very small due to lack of large, clean crystals. Parisite was named after J.J. Paris, former manager of the Muzo emerald mine, Muzo, Colombia. Distribution: Many localities, most minor. Fine crystals from the Muzo district, Boyacá Province, Colombia. In the USA, in Montana, very large crystals at the Snowbird deposit and the nearby Cedar Log prospect, Mineral County, and from Pyrites, 13 km east of Florence, Ravalli County; at Quincy, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. From Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada. At Holmestrand, Vestfold, Norway. In the Trimouns talc deposit, six km northeast of Luzenac, Ari`ege, France. From Monterfano, Lombardy, Italy. Around Gallt y Wenallt, Gwynedd, Wales. In the Khibiny massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia. On Mt. Malosa, Zomba district, Malawi. At Ifasina, Torendrika, Madagascar. In the Lueshe carbonatite, 150 km north of Goma, Kivu Province, Congo (Zaire). At the Shirashi pegmatite, Kobe, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. In the Bayan Obo Fe–Nb–RE deposit, 130 km north of Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China. At Nam Nam Xe, Vietnam. |
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Parisite gems for sale:
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