Cheralite is a rare phosphate mineral in the monazite group that is notable for its significant thorium content. It is typically found as a component of heavy mineral sands or within granitic pegmatites, often appearing as yellowish to brownish grains. Due to its radioactivity, collectors should handle it with proper precautions and store it in a way that limits radiation exposure.
Is this cheralite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch cheralite with a known reference. Cheralite sits at Mohs 5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Cheralite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Cheralite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brown, greenish-yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic crystals, granular, massive.
Often confused with
Cheralite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside cheralite
Minerals reported to co-occur with cheralite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Ca,Ce,Th)(PO₄,SiO₄)
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 5.3-5.5 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals, Granular, Massive
- Cleavage
- Distinct
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites, Heavy Mineral Sand Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-150 per specimen
Where rockhounds find cheralite
Classic worldwide localities
- Sri Lanka
- Brazil
- Australia
- USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites, heavy mineral sand deposits country — that is the host setting where cheralite typically forms. If you start seeing zircon, quartz, feldspar in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic crystals, granular, massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify cheralite?+
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Find cheralite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
