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Synchysite-(Nd)
A valid IMA mineral species
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Formula:
CaNd(CO3)2F
Colour:
Rose-pink, Pale gray-blue, light grass-green; pale violet to colourless (transmitted light)
Lustre:
Dull
Hardness:
4½
Specific Gravity:
4.14 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
Named for its relation to the other synchysite group species, with the "-(Nd)" suffix denoting the dominance of neodymium in the composition. The root name is from the Greek σύγχΰσις "synchys" for "confounding" in allusion to its initially being mistaken for parisite.
Type Locality:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3854
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3854:2
Similar Names
| Synchisite | A synonym of 'Synchysite' | |
| Synchysite-(Ce) | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | CaCe(CO3)2F |
| Synchysite-(La) | Valid as an unnamed mineral | Ca(La,Nd)(CO3)2F |
| Synchysite-(Y) | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | CaY(CO3)2F |
IMA Classification of Synchysite-(Nd)
Approved
First published:
1978
Classification of Synchysite-(Nd)
5.BD.20c
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
B : Carbonates with additional anions, without H2O
D : With rare earth elements (REE)
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
B : Carbonates with additional anions, without H2O
D : With rare earth elements (REE)
16a.1.3.3
16a : ANHYDROUS CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
1 : (AB)(XO3)Zq
16a : ANHYDROUS CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
1 : (AB)(XO3)Zq
12.1.15
12 : Carbonates with other anions
1 : Carbonates with halides
12 : Carbonates with other anions
1 : Carbonates with halides
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Syn-Nd | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Syn | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Synchysite-(Nd)
Dull
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Rose-pink, Pale gray-blue, light grass-green; pale violet to colourless (transmitted light)
Streak:
White
Hardness:
4½ on Mohs scale
Comment:
1 in aggregates
Density:
4.14 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Synchysite-(Nd)
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.61 nβ = 1.66 nγ = 1.74
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.130
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
No measured or calculated 2V is on file for this mineral, so the value used here (80°) is estimated from its recorded refractive indices and optic sign, not from a direct 2V measurement.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
No measured or calculated 2V is on file for this mineral, so the value used here (80°) is estimated from its recorded refractive indices and optic sign, not from a direct 2V measurement.
Dispersion:
r > v strong
Chemistry of Synchysite-(Nd)
Mindat Formula:
CaNd(CO3)2F
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Synchysite-(Nd)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.039(2) Å, b = 6.984(4) Å, c = 54.27(5) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.578 : 1 : 7.771
Unit Cell V:
1,530.87 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
12
Comment:
Pseudohexagonal
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.52 Å | (100) |
| 9.04 Å | (60) |
| 2.77 Å | (36) |
| 1.898 Å | (33) |
| 3.50 Å | (19) |
| 3.25 Å | (16) |
| 2.26 Å | (16) |
Comments:
Holičky deposit, Czech Republic. Data from Scharm and Kühn (1983).
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 34 : Complex granite pegmatites | |
| 35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks |
Type Occurrence of Synchysite-(Nd)
General Appearance of Type Material:
As bladed crystals, to 0.036 mm, in radial to platy aggregates.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic, 21242, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 161213.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In a bauxite deposit, near the limestone footwall.
Synonyms of Synchysite-(Nd)
Synchysite (in part)
Other Language Names for Synchysite-(Nd)
Relationship of Synchysite-(Nd) to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Synchysite Group:
| Huanghoite-(Ce) | BaCe(CO3)2F | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m |
| Huanghoite-(Nd) | BaNd(CO3)2F | Trig. 3m : R3m |
| 'Hydroxylsynchysite-(Ce)' | Ca(Ce,La)(CO3)2(OH) | |
| Synchysite-(Ce) | CaCe(CO3)2F | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| 'Synchysite-(La)' | Ca(La,Nd)(CO3)2F | |
| Synchysite-(Y) | CaY(CO3)2F | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 2 photos of Synchysite-(Nd) associated with Bastnäsite-(Ce) | Ce(CO3)F |
| 2 photos of Synchysite-(Nd) associated with Magnetite | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| 2 photos of Synchysite-(Nd) associated with Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 5.BD. | Cordylite-(La) | (Na,Ca)Ba(La,Ce,Sr)2(CO3)4F |
| 5.BD.05 | Cordylite-(Ce) | NaBaCe2(CO3)4F |
| 5.BD.05 | 'Unnamed (Cordylite-like Calcium-Barium-Cerium Carbonate-Fluoride)' | Ca◻Ba2Ce4[CO3]8F2 |
| 5.BD.05 | Lukechangite-(Ce) | Na3Ce2(CO3)4F |
| 5.BD.10 | 'Zhonghuacerite-(Ce)' | Ba2Ce(CO3)3F |
| 5.BD.10 | Kukharenkoite-(Ce) | Ba2Ce(CO3)3F |
| 5.BD.10 | Kukharenkoite-(La) | Ba2(La,Ce,Th)(CO3)3F |
| 5.BD.15 | Cebaite-(Ce) | Ba3Ce2(CO3)5F2 |
| 5.BD.15 | 'Cebaite-(Nd)' | Ba3(Nd,Ce)2(CO3)5F2 |
| 5.BD.18 | Arisite-(Ce) | NaCe2(CO3)2[F2x(CO3)1-x]F |
| 5.BD.18 | Arisite-(La) | NaLa2(CO3)2[F2x(CO3)1-x]F |
| 5.BD.20c | Synchysite-(Ce) | CaCe(CO3)2F |
| 5.BD.20c | Synchysite-(Y) | CaY(CO3)2F |
| 5.BD.20a | Bastnäsite-(Ce) | Ce(CO3)F |
| 5.BD.20b | Parisite-(Ce) | CaCe2(CO3)3F2 |
| 5.BD.20a | Bastnäsite-(La) | La(CO3)F |
| 5.BD.20b | Parisite-(Nd) | Ca(Nd,Ce,La)2(CO3)3F2 |
| 5.BD.20a | Bastnäsite-(Y) | Y(CO3)F |
| 5.BD.20b | Parisite-(La) | CaLa2(CO3)3F2 |
| 5.BD.20d | Röntgenite-(Ce) | Ca2(Ce,La)3(CO3)5F3 |
| 5.BD.20a | Thorbastnäsite | ThCa(CO3)2F2 · 3H2O |
| 5.BD.20a | Hydroxylbastnäsite-(Ce) | Ce(CO3)(OH) |
| 5.BD.20a | Hydroxylbastnäsite-(Nd) | Nd(CO3)(OH) |
| 5.BD.20c | 'Hydroxylsynchysite-(Ce)' | Ca(Ce,La)(CO3)2(OH) |
| 5.BD.20c | 'Synchysite-(La)' | Ca(La,Nd)(CO3)2F |
| 5.BD.20a | Bastnäsite-(Nd) | Nd(CO3)F |
| 5.BD.20a | Hydroxylbastnäsite-(La) | (La,Nd,Ce)(CO3)(OH,F) |
| 5.BD.25 | Qaqarssukite-(Ce) | Ba(Ce,REE)(CO3)2F |
| 5.BD.25 | Horváthite-(Y) | NaY(CO3)F2 |
| 5.BD.35 | Huanghoite-(Ce) | BaCe(CO3)2F |
| 5.BD.35 | Huanghoite-(Nd) | BaNd(CO3)2F |
| 5.BD.45 | Bayanoboite-(Y) | Ba2Y(CO3)2F3 |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Synchysite-(Nd)
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3854.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Synchysite-(Nd)
Reference List:
Localities for Synchysite-(Nd)
Showing 11 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia | |
| Habibi et al. (2025) |
Czech Republic | |
| Scharm et al. (1983) |
| Scharm +7 other references | |
Finland | |
| Vorma et al. (1966) |
Hungary | |
| SZAKÁLL et al. (2003) |
Italy | |
| Palenzona et al. (2009) |
Kosovo (TL) | |
| Maksimović et al. (1978) +2 other references |
Norway | |
| Husdal (2011) |
| Andersen (1986) |
South Africa | |
| Atanasova et al. (2016) |
Switzerland | |
| Perroud et al. (1987) +1 other reference |
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