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Parisite
Current inventory:  1 gem
 

Chemistry:  CaCe_1.1La_0.9(CO₃)₃F₂

Discovered in 1835;   IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered).
Parisite is named after J.J. Paris, former Manager of the Muzo emerald mine, Muzo, Columbia.

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Carbonates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

5/C.07-70

5 : Nitrates, Carbonates & Borates
C : Waterfree carbonates with unfamiliar anions
07 : Bastnäsite-(Y) - Mineevite-(Y) series

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Trigonal - Pyramidal  (Monoclinic - Pseudohexagonal)

Crystal Habit:

Steep doubly-terminated pyramidal crystals, to 24 cm; many forms, but oscillatory and sceptered due to intergrowths with bastnasite-(Ce), synchysite-(Ce), rontgenite-(Ce), cordylite.

Twinning:

None

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

[0001] Distinct

Fracture:

Splintery to Sub-Conchoidal

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

4.5

Density:

4.33 - 4.39 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

Non-fluorescent; may exhibit dark red cathodoluminescence

Radioactivity:

Weak; GRapi = 50,156.22 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Optical Properties

Color:

Brown, Brownish yellow, Grayish yellow, Yellow

Transparency:

Transparent, Translucent

Luster:

Vitreous, Resinous, Pearly

Refractive Index:

1.676 - 1.757  Uniaxial ( + )

Birefringence:

0.081

Dispersion:

n/a

Pleochroism:

Weak; O = Light yellow, E = Golden yellow

Occurances

Geological Setting:

An accessory mineral in differentiated alkalic massifs, granite pegmatites, and RE-rich carbonatites.

Type Locality:

Muzo, Vasquez-Yacopi Mining District, Boyacá Department, Colombia

Year Discovered:

1835

View mineral photos:

Parisite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Parisite is a very rare gem and usually very small due to lack of large, clean crystals. One of the most notable sources, and the type locality is Muzo, Columbia where small, gemmy crystals are found. Parisite is also found as inclusions in Emerald crystals from Muzo, Columbia. Another gem quality crystal locality is the Snowbird deposit in Montana, USA. There are a few other sources but not for gem quality crystals.
 

  
Parisite gems for sale: