monazite

American  

[mon-uh-zahyt] / ˈmɒn əˌzaɪt /

noun

1. a reddish- or yellowish-brown mineral, a phosphate of cerium and lanthanum, (Ce,La)PO 4 : the principal ore of thorium.

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monazite British  

/ ˈmɒnəˌzaɪt /

noun

1. a yellow to reddish-brown mineral consisting of a phosphate of thorium, cerium, and lanthanum in monoclinic crystalline form

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monazite Scientific  

/ mŏn′ə-zīt′ /

1. A yellow or reddish-brown monoclinic mineral that is a principal ore of several lanthanide (rare-earth) elements. It occurs as tabular crystals in pegmatites, granites, and metamorphic rocks, as well as in sand. Chemical formula: (Ce, La, Nd, Th)PO ₄ .

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Etymology

Origin of monazite

First recorded in 1830–40; from German Monazit, equivalent to monaz- (from Greek monázein “to be alone, live alone”) + -it noun suffix; mon-, -ite ¹ (so called from its rarity)

Example Sentences

The researchers determined the crater’s age by examining tiny crystals of the minerals monazite and zircon formed in the asteroid impact.

From Reuters

The scientists were able to determine the age of the impact crater, which is not visible to the eye, by testing the minerals zircon and monazite that were "shock recrystallized."

From Fox News

But the searing temperatures of an impact — thousands of degrees Fahrenheit — cause zircon and monazite to recrystallize, a process that drives out lead.

From New York Times

At Yarrabubba, we identified tiny crystals of zircon and monazite – each about the width of human hair – with textures that show they had been heated by a massive impact.

From The Guardian

To determine when the asteroid hit Earth, the team examined tiny zircon and monazite crystals in the rocks.

From BBC