Bastnäsite

Bastnaesite is the name for a group of minerals that belong to the carbonates and nitrates. They contain metals called rare earths, e.g. cerium, lanthanum, neodymium and yttrium. Natural deposits always contain two or more rare earths due to the formation of solid solutions. Bastnaesites are mainly used for the extraction of rare earths, only particularly clear and beautiful specimens are processed into gemstones. The name comes from an ore mine near Bastnäs in Sweden, where in 1838 a bastnaesite was found for the first time and named after its origin by a mineralogist.

Bastnaesites occur in waxy to honey yellow, brick red to crimson and reddish brown to dark brown colors. They are 4 to 4.5 on the Mohs scale. They are formed mainly by magmatic activity in carbonatites and pegmatites. They have been found in more than 400 sites. The most important of them are Mountain Pass in California, Bayan Obo in China as well as several in Madagascar. Especially beautiful and clear bastnaesites are found in France as well as in Pakistan. The crystals found at the Pakistani mountain Zagi are known for their strong red-brown coloration and their particularly even formation.

Your gemstone search

Showing all 13 results

  • Bastnaesite

    Bastnaesite

    2,825 ct. | IV/D
    GLA
    500.00
  • Bastnäsite

    Bastnäsite

    2,773 ct. | IV/C
    GLA
    600.00
  • Bastnäsite

    Bastnäsite

    2,822 ct. | IV/D
    GLA
    500.00
  • Bastnäsite

    Bastnäsite

    2,829 ct. | IV/D
    GLA
    500.00
  • Bastnäsite

    Bastnäsite

    2,873 ct. | IV/D
    GLA
    500.00
  • Bastnäsite

    Bastnäsite

    3,034 ct. | IV/D
    GLA
    600.00
  • Bastnäsite

    Bastnäsite

    3,275 ct. | III/D
    GLA
    500.00
  • Bastnäsite

    Bastnäsite

    3,468 ct. | III/C
    GLA
    800.00
  • Bastnäsite

    Bastnäsite

    3,764 ct. | V/D
    GLA
    500.00
  • Bastnäsite

    Bastnäsite

    3,878 ct. | IV/D
    GLA
    1,000.00
  • Bastnäsite

    Bastnäsite

    4,586 ct. | IV/C
    GLA
    1,200.00
  • Bastnäsite

    Bastnäsite

    2,3 ct. | IV/C
    GLA
    500.00
  • Bastnäsite

    Bastnäsite

    2,78 ct. | IV/C
    GLA
    600.00
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