It is yellow to brownish-yellow and colourless. Hardness 41⁄2; sp. gr. 4·31. Before the blowpipe it decrepitates, and is infusible; moistened with hydrochloric acid, it gives the characteristic barium flame.
The so-called Synchisite was discovered by Nordenskiöld who correctly described it as Parisite. Flink found it in Greenland, and announced it as a new species, with the formula R₂F₂Ca₂(CO₃)₄, i.e. the formula for parisite plus one molecule of calcium carbonate, CaCO₃. From its extraordinary resemblance to parisite in physical and crystallographic properties, Palache and Warren[95] believe that the specimens selected by Flink for analysis must have consisted, in reality, of parisite with admixed calcium carbonate. This conclusion has now been confirmed by Quercigh, by a careful comparison of the optical properties.[96] The minerals are usually found together, the chief localities being S. Norway, the gold districts of the Urals, Narsarsuk in S. Greenland, and Montana, U.S.A.
[95] Amer. J. Sci. 1911, [iv.], 31, 533.
[96] Abstr. Chem. Soc. 1912, 102, ii. 773.
The following rare earth carbonates are described in the [alphabetical list]:
Ancylite, a basic hydrated carbonate.
Tengerite, a hydrated carbonate formed by the weathering of gadolinite.
Kischtimite, a fluo-carbonate related to parisite.
Bastnäsite (Harmatite) and Weibyite, hydrated fluocarbonates of the cerium elements.