Monazite-(Ce): North Star deposit, La Jarita-Apache area, Petaca Mining District, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, USA

Description

Species: Monazite-(Ce)
Locality: North Star deposit, La Jarita-Apache area, Petaca Mining District, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, USA
Dimensions: 5.7 x 5.3 x 4.8 cm.

An excellent large, sharp crystal of brick-red Monazite-(Ce) from a small find last year at the North Star pegmatite in the Petaca District of northern New Mexico. Petaca has produced fine monazite crystals in the past, but these are some of the best I have seen for this classic NYF-type pegmatite district. They are large, well-formed, and in good condition, especially considering they were collected from ~1.7 billion year old pegmatites at the surface! Measures ~75,000 CPM on my Ludlum Model 3 Counter with the 44-9 probe. Rare!