bastnaesite

or bast·näs·ite

[ bast-nuh-sahyt ]

noun

1. a rare-earth mineral, fluorocarbonate of lanthanum and cerium, with a waxy-yellow to reddish-brown color, commonly associated with zinc ores.

bastnaesite

/ ˈbæstnəˌsaɪt /

noun

1. a rare yellow to reddish-brown mineral consisting of a carbonate of fluorine and several lanthanide metals. It occurs in association with zinc and is a source of the lanthanides. Formula: LaFCO 3

Word History and Origins

Origin of bastnaesite¹

Named after Bastnäs, mine in Sweden; -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of bastnaesite¹

C19: from Swedish bastnäsit , after Bastnäs , Sweden, where it was found