Gasparite-(Ce)
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Gasparite-(Ce)
Formula:
Ce(AsO4)
Colour:
Light brown-red
Hardness:
5
Specific Gravity:
5.63 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named after Giovanni Gaspari, mineral collector of Crodo, Italy, who first found the mineral, and for its dominant cerium content.
Type Locality:
Isostructural with:
The arsenate analogue of monazite-(Ce).
The Ce-analogue of gasparite-(La) and Unnamed (Nd-dominant Gasparite).
The Ce-analogue of gasparite-(La) and Unnamed (Nd-dominant Gasparite).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1656
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1656:4
Similar Names
| Gasparite | A synonym | |
| Gasparite-(La) | A valid IMA mineral species | La(AsO4) |
| Kasparite | A variety of Pickeringite | (Mg,Co)Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O |
IMA Classification of Gasparite-(Ce)
Classification of Gasparite-(Ce)
8.AD.50
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
38.4.3.6
38 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, AND VANADATES
4 : AXO4
38 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, AND VANADATES
4 : AXO4
20.4.11
20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
4 : Arsenates of Group III metals (Al, rare earths)
20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
4 : Arsenates of Group III metals (Al, rare earths)
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Gsp-Ce | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Gasparite-(Ce)
Colour:
Light brown-red
Streak:
White
Hardness:
5 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=327(5) - Vickers
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density:
5.63 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Gasparite-(Ce)
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.810(8) nβ = 1.825(8) nγ = 1.92(1)
2V:
Measured: 40° to 45°, Calculated: 46°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.110
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
r > v
Optical Extinction:
X = b; Z ∧ c = 4°.
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Gasparite-(Ce)
Mindat Formula:
Ce(AsO4)
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Gasparite-(Ce)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.937(3) Å, b = 7.137(4) Å, c = 6.738(6) Å
β = 104.69(5)°
β = 104.69(5)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.972 : 1 : 0.944
Unit Cell V:
322.69 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Pseudorhombohedral crystals. Forms include {100}, {001}, {110}, {101}.
Twinning:
None observed.
Comment:
Space group P21/n.
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0007026 | Gasparite-(Ce) | Kolitsch U, Holtstam D, Gatedal K (2004) Crystal chemistry of REEXO4 compounds (X = P, As, V). I. Paragenesis and crystal structure of phosphatian gasparite-(Ce) from the Kesebol Mn-Fe-Cu deposit, Vastra Gotaland, Sweden European Journal of Mineralogy 16 111-116 | 2004 | Kesebol Mn-Fe-Cu deposit, Vastra Gotaland, Sweden | 0 | 293 | |
| 0010388 | Gasparite-(Ce) | Brahim A, Mongi F M, Amor H (2002) Cerium arsenate, CeAsO4 Acta Crystallographica E58 i98-i99 |  | 2002 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.156 Å | (100) |
| 3.355 Å | (77) |
| 2.966 Å | (70) |
| 2.003 Å | (45) |
| 2.709 Å | (44) |
| 3.035 Å | (34) |
| 1.7787 Å | (34) |
Comments:
Pizzo Cervandone, Italy. The data are from the type description.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 5: Initiation of plate tectonics | <3.5-2.5 |
| 40 : Regional metamorphism (greenschist, amphibolite, granulite facies) | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47d : [Arsenates, antimonates, selenates, bismuthinates] | |
| 47h : [Near-surface oxidized, dehydrated minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Gasparite-(Ce)
General Appearance of Type Material:
Rims to complete pseudomorphs of synchysite crystal aggregates. As pseudorhombohedral crystals, to 0.5 mm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Natural History Museum, Basel, Switzerland, 30653.
Mineralogical Institute, Basel, Switzerland.
University, Basel, Switzerland.
Mineralogical Institute, Basel, Switzerland.
University, Basel, Switzerland.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In fissures formed by amphibolite-grade metamorphism of metasedimentary rocks.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Gasparite-(Ce)
Gasparite (in part)
Other Language Names for Gasparite-(Ce)
Relationship of Gasparite-(Ce) to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Gasparite Group:
| Gasparite-(La) | La(AsO4) | Mon. 2/m |
| 'Unnamed (Nd-dominant Gasparite)' | Nd(AsO4) | Mon. 2/m |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 10 photos of Gasparite-(Ce) associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 4 photos of Gasparite-(Ce) associated with 'Opal-AN' | SiO2 · nH2O |
| 1 photo of Gasparite-(Ce) associated with Tripuhyite | Fe3+Sb5+O4 |
| 1 photo of Gasparite-(Ce) associated with Calcybeborosilite-(Y) | (Y,Ca)2(◻,Fe2+)(B,Be)2[SiO4]2(OH,O)2 |
| 1 photo of Gasparite-(Ce) associated with Bastnäsite-(Y) | Y(CO3)F |
| 1 photo of Gasparite-(Ce) associated with Chernovite-(Y) | Y(AsO4) |
| 1 photo of Gasparite-(Ce) associated with 'Unnamed (Nd-dominant Gasparite)' | Nd(AsO4) |
| 1 photo of Gasparite-(Ce) associated with Deveroite-(Ce) | Ce2(C2O4)3 · 10H2O |
| 1 photo of Gasparite-(Ce) associated with Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 1 photo of Gasparite-(Ce) associated with Piemontite | (CaCa)(AlAlMn3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.AD. | 'Unnamed (Monoclinic polymorph of ximengite)' | Bi(PO4) |
| 8.AD. | Keplerite | Ca9(Ca0.5◻0.5)Mg(PO4)7 |
| 8.AD. | Mazorite | Ba3(PO4)2 |
| 8.AD. | Deynekoite | Ca9◻Fe3+(PO4)7 |
| 8.AD. | Monazite-(Gd) | Gd(PO4) |
| 8.AD.05 | Nahpoite | Na2(PO3OH) |
| 8.AD.10 | Weilite | Ca(HAsO4) |
| 8.AD.10 | Švenekite | Ca(H2AsO4)2 |
| 8.AD.10 | Monetite | Ca(PO3OH) |
| 8.AD.15 | Archerite | (K,NH4)(H2PO4) |
| 8.AD.15 | Biphosphammite | NH4(H2PO4) |
| 8.AD.20 | Phosphammite | (NH4)2(PO3OH) |
| 8.AD.25 | Buchwaldite | NaCa(PO4) |
| 8.AD.30 | Schulténite | Pb(HAsO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Dreyerite | Bi(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Wakefieldite-(La) | La(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Anningite-(Ce) | (Ca0.5Ce4+0.5)(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Pretulite | Sc(PO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Wakefieldite-(Ce) | Ce(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Wakefieldite-(Y) | Y(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Xenotime-(Yb) | Yb(PO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | 'Chernovite-(Ce)' | (Ce,Y)(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Xenotime-(Gd) | Gd(PO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Chernovite-(Y) | Y(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Xenotime-(Y) | Y(PO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Wakefieldite-(Nd) | Nd(VO4) |
| 8.AD.40 | Pucherite | Bi(VO4) |
| 8.AD.45 | Ximengite | Bi(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | 'UM2005-35-VO:CaFePSiTh' | (Th,Ca)(VO4,SiO4,PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Rooseveltite | Bi(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Monazite-(Sm) | Sm(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Monazite-(Ce) | Ce(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Monazite-(La) | La(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Monazite-(Nd) | Nd(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Gasparite-(La) | La(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Cheralite | CaTh(PO4)2 |
| 8.AD.55 | Tetrarooseveltite | Bi(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.60 | Chursinite | [Hg2]2+Hg2+2[AsO4]2 |
| 8.AD.65 | Clinobisvanite | Bi(VO4) |
| 8.AD.70 | Gurimite | Ba3(VO4)2 |
| 8.AD.75 | Picaite | NaCa[AsO3OH][AsO2(OH)2] |
Fluorescence of Gasparite-(Ce)
Bright green fluorescence with a common quartz lamp ("quick tanning lamp").
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Gasparite-(Ce)
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1656.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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Mineral Dealers:
References for Gasparite-(Ce)
Reference List:
Jambor, John L., Ercit, Ernst A. J. Burke T. Scott, Grice, Joel D. (1988) New Mineral Names. American Mineralogist, 73 (11-12) 1492-1499
Kolitsch, Uwe; Holtstam, Dan (2004) Crystal chemistry of REEXO4 compounds (X = P, As, V). II. Review of REEXO4 compounds and their stability fields. European Journal of Mineralogy, 16 (1). 117-126 doi:10.1127/0935-1221/2004/0016-0117
Schmidt, Marcus, Müller, Ulf, Cardoso Gil, Raul, Milke, Edgar, Binnewies, Michael (2005) Zum chemischen Transport und zur Kristallstruktur von Seltenerdarsenaten(V) [Chemical vapour transport and crystal structure of rare-earth arsenates(V)]. Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie, 631 (6). 1154-1162 doi:10.1002/zaac.200400544
Pagliaro, Francesco, Lotti, Paolo, Comboni, Davide, Battiston, Tommaso, Guastoni, Alessandro, Fumagalli, Patrizia, Rotiroti, Nicola, Gatta, G. Diego (2022) High-pressure behavior of gasparite-(Ce) (nominally CeAsO4), a monazite-type arsenate. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 49 (12). 46 doi:10.1007/s00269-022-01222-5
Pagliaro, Francesco, Lotti, Paolo, Guastoni, Alessandro, Rotiroti, Nicola, Battiston, Tommaso, Gatta, G. Diego (2022) Crystal chemistry and miscibility of chernovite-(Y), xenotime-(Y), gasparite-(Ce) and monazite-(Ce) from Mt. Cervandone, Western Alps, Italy. Mineralogical Magazine, 86 (1) 150-167 doi:10.1180/mgm.2022.5
Localities for Gasparite-(Ce)
Showing 30 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Austria | |
| Kolitsch et al. (2015) +2 other references |
| Kolitsch et al. (2025) | |
Germany | |
| Kolitsch et al. (2005) |
Greece | |
| Stouraiti et al. (2022) |
Italy | |
| Balestra et al. (2020) |
| Matteo Giai et al. (2023) +1 other reference |
| Graeser et al. (1987) +4 other references |
| Albertini (1991) +1 other reference | |
| Caboni et al. (2018) |
| Mancini (2000) |
North Macedonia | |
| Ermolaeva et al. (2019) |
Norway | |
| Raade et al. (2006) |
Russia | |
| Alekseev et al. (2015) |
| Pavel M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
| Pavel M. Kartashov (n.d.) | |
| Pavel M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
| Gorelikova et al. (2021) |
Slovakia | |
| Ondrejka M. et al. (Western Carpathians, Slovakia) |
South Africa | |
| Mitchell et al. (2004) |
Sweden | |
| Gatedal (n.d.) |
| Holtstam +7 other references |
Switzerland | |
| Roth et al. (2011) |
| Wulser PA (2002) |
| |
| Graeser et al. (1987) +2 other references | |
| Cuchet et al. (2005) |
Tajikistan | |
| Atali Agakhanov analytical data |
USA | |
| - (1989) |
| King et al. (1991) |
| Northrop et al. (1996) |
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Wanni glacier - Scherbadung area, Binn, Goms, Valais, Switzerland