Praseodymium

praseodymium

kozoite-(Nd)

phosinaite-(Ce)

bastnasite

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Symbol: Pr
Lanthanide rare earth metal. Praseodymium is not found free in nature but is found in a number of minerals, mainly monazite and bastnäsite as impurities. Praseodymium usually exists as a trivalent ion, Pr³⁺, in its compounds. Most of its salts are pale green in colour.
Crystal system: Isometric
Specific gravity: 6.77
Colour: Silvery white
Melting point: 931^oC
Boiling point: 3510^oC
Abundance in the Earth's crust: 8.7 parts per million by mass, 1.3 parts per million by moles (ChC).
Abundance in the Solar System: 1 part per billion by mass, 5 parts per trillion by moles (ChC).

Praseodymium-bearing minerals include:

Carbonates
kozoite-(Nd)*

Cyclosilicates
phosinaite-(Ce)*

*The IMF formula does not contain Pr, the Mindat formula contains Pr replacing some Nd and Ce


Carbonates - the carbonate anion is (CO₃)^2-
Cyclosorosilicate - (Si⁴⁺_nO_3n)^2n- groups

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