Parisite-(Ce) with Aegirine

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The alkali pegmatites at Mount Malosa, near Zomba in Malawi have long been known for their rare earth element (REE) minerals, some of which occur in world-class crystals. Parisite-(Ce) is one of these, although in reality crystals can have multiple compositions across to Bastnäsite-(Ce) due to internal chemical zonation, as well as external alteration to other phases. This thumbnail specimen comprises a cluster of at least three, orange, prismatic Parisite-(Ce) crystals sat upon one side of a 2 cm long black prismatic Aegirine crystal. The Parisite-(Ce) crystals, which reach up to 1.4 cm in length are coated in an outer cream coloured layer of an unidentified oxidation mineral, but with their internal fresh orange colour exposed where the surfaces have been rubbed. Their overall form is of pseudohexagonal prisms, but their flat pinacoid terminations are nearer to triangular than hexagonal and their stepped and rounded prism sides are somewhat confused in their form. It is from the superb systematic collection assembled by the brothers Martin and Michael Günther (1951-2007 & 1956-2021).