Cheralite is an anhydrous phosphate mineral with the ideal chemical formula CaTh(PO4)2. It is isomorphous with huttonite and monazite. It can be regarded as the product of the complete cationic substitution in the system:
2 LREE ↔ Ca + Th.
It was previously known under the name brabantite.
Physical properties:
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Lustre | Vitreous |
| Description | Dull or greasy |
| Colour | Grayish brown to reddish brown (on rims), pale yellow, brownish green |
| Hardness | 5 on Mohs scale |
| Density | 4.72 - 5.02 g/cm |
References
- Kees Linthout. "Tripartite division of the system 2REEPO4-CaTh (PO4)2-2ThSiO4, discreditation of brabantite, and recognition of cheralite as the name for members dominated by CaTh(PO4)2, Canadian Mineralogist 45 (2007) 503-508" (PDF). Retrieved May 11, 2018.
- ^ Cheralite on Mindat.org