monazite
Definition
Noun: A reddish-brown phosphate mineral that contains rare earth elements, primarily cerium and lanthanum, and is a significant source of thorium.
Usage
"Monazite" is used as a countable noun to refer to the mineral itself, typically found in sands and igneous rocks. It is a term from geology and mineralogy. * Geologists identified monazite in the heavy mineral sands. * The primary source of thorium for the nuclear industry is monazite.
Examples
- The beach sands are rich in monazite.
- This monazite sample has a high concentration of cerium.
- Processing monazite to extract rare earths is a complex procedure.
Advanced Usage
- Monazite-(Ce) and Monazite-(La): These are specific varieties named after their dominant rare earth element (cerium or lanthanum).
- Monazite sand: A common natural occurrence where monazite is concentrated in placer deposits, often with other heavy minerals like zircon and ilmenite.
Variants and Related Words
- Monazitic (adjective): Relating to or containing monazite.
- The monazitic sands were of great economic interest.
Synonyms
- Mineral (general category)
- Rare earth mineral (specific category)
- Thorium ore (functional description)
Different Meanings
The word "monazite" has a single, specific meaning in mineralogy and does not have other common definitions or usages in general English.
Idioms and Phrases
There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs using the word "monazite."
Noun
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a reddish-brown mineral containing rare earth metals; an important source of thorium and cerium
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