Cheralite is an anhydrous phosphate mineral with the ideal chemical formula CaTh(PO4)2.[1][2] It is isomorphous with huttonite and monazite. It can be regarded as the product of the complete cationic substitution in the system:

2 LREE3+ ↔ Ca2+ + Th4+.

It was previously known under the name brabantite.

Physical properties:[2]

Property Value
Lustre Vitreous
Description Dull or greasy
Colour Grayish brown to reddish brown (on rims), pale yellow, brownish green
Hardness 5 on Mohs scale
Density 4.72 - 5.02 g/cm3

References

  1. ↑ Kees Linthout. "Tripartite division of the system 2REEPO4-CaTh (PO4)2-2ThSiO4, discreditation of brabantite, and recognition of cheralite as the name for members dominated by CaTh(PO4)2, Canadian Mineralogist 45 (2007) 503-508" (PDF). Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  2. 1 2 Cheralite on Mindat.org
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