Mineral Database

Mineral Database
Mineralogy of Wales

Parisite-(Ce)

Crystal System: Trigonal
Formula: Ca(Ce,Nd,La)2(CO3)2F2
Status of Occurrence: Confirmed Occurrence - 1st UK recording
Distribution: Rare
Chemical Composition: Calcium light rare earth carbonate fluoride
Method(s) of Verification: not known.
Chemical Group:
  • Carbonates
Geological Context:
  • Igneous
  • Hydrothermal : alpine type veins
Introduction: parisite is typically found in altered igneous rocks, pegmatites and alpine fissure-type veins. It typically occurs with other rare-earth bearing minerals.
Occurrence in Wales: the only recorded occurrence of parisite in the UK is in Central Snowdonia, where its presence was noted by Howells et al. (1991).
Key Localities:
  • Central Snowdonia, Gwynedd: Howells et al. (1991) noted parisite as one of a number of secondary minerals found as microscopic veinlets and as thin rims to primary accessory igneous minerals, within altered Ordovician rhyolites in this area. Specific localities were not noted in this publication.
References:
  • Howells, M.F., Reedman, A.J. & Campbell, S.D.G., 1991 Ordovician (Caradoc) marginal basin volcanism in Snowdonia (north-west Wales).  HMSO for the British Geological Survey, 191pp.