Monazite – cheralite – huttonite system — Photo: SkylYip · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cheralite
A calcium-thorium phosphate isostructural with monazite and huttonite — formed by substituting Ca²⁺ + Th⁴⁺ for pairs of rare-earth ions.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Cheralite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the phosphate class, with the chemical formula CaTh(PO₄)₂.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group P2_1/n). It is a member of the Monazite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 5; specific gravity 5.28; White streak; Resinous or greasy to vitreous luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Cher, IMA status: approved, named in 1953.
Disseminated in a kaolinized pegmatite dike and surrounding kaolinized granite gneiss; alluvial (Kuttankuli, India); in a carbonatite (Mt. Weld, Western Australia).
It is found associated with Tourmaline, chrysoberyl, zircon, quartz (Kuttankuli, India).
The name refers to Chera (Kerala), an ancient Dravidian kingdom predating Travancore (now Kerala State), India.