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

Description

Species: Monazite-(Ce)

Locality: North Star Pegmatite, La Jarita-Apache area, Petaca Mining District, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, USA

Dimensions: 2.4 x 2.1 x 2.3 cm, ~40 grams (weight incl. base)

Superb thumbnail-size (mounted in a perky box for display) well-formed Monazite-(Ce) crystal from the North Star pegmatite in the Petaca District of northern New Mexico. Petaca is a noted locality for high-quality Monazite crystals, and good examples have been found periodically over many decades going back to the World War II period (when these pegmatites were first commercially operated for muscovite and feldspar). This recent (summer 2025) discovery is, however, in my opinion, the best yet for the species at this noted locale! Large, impressively sharp, undamaged brick-red crystals to over 12 cm (!) compare favorably with finds of this uncommon REE mineral from anywhere else in the world. I was lucky to secure the best specimens directly from the person that collected them and am happy to present them here. If you are a serious collector of REE minerals or rare element species, I would strongly suggest considering these: discoveries like this tend to be a ‘flash in the pan’ type phenomenon. Note: these do contain ~8-10 wt% Thorium and as such a fairly (but not super) radioactive!