Monazite - (Ce) - Minas, Gerais, Brazil

Monazite-(Ce) from Minas Gerais, Brazil, typically occurs as reddish-brown to honey-colored, prismatic to rounded crystals embedded in granitic pegmatites or as resistant detrital grains in placers. Rich in cerium and other light rare earth elements, this phosphate mineral often displays a silky to vitreous luster and forms well-terminated crystals in the famous pegmatite districts of Minas Gerais, especially near Araçuaí and Governador Valadares. These specimens can occasionally reach several centimeters in size.

Monazite-(Ce) from this region represents some of the world’s finest and most studied occurrences due to its abundance, high REE content, and role in both scientific research and industrial rare earth extraction. It is also mildly radioactive due to trace thorium content, adding further interest to collectors. These specimens are valued for both their gemological and geochemical significance, making them a key component of any collection focused on phosphate or REE minerals.

Approx. specimen size: 25mm x 15mm x 8mm

Approx. specimen weight: 11.23 grams

Approx. specimen activity on an SE International Ranger EXP: 2200 cpm