Monazite-(Sm) is an exceedingly rare representative of the monazite group, with samarium being the dominant rare earth element in its structure.
It is the samarium analogue of monazite-(Ce), monazite-(La), and monazite-(Nd).
It is only the second known mineral with samarium being the mineral-forming element, after florencite-(Sm).
[3] The group contains simple rare earth phosphate minerals with the general formula of ATO4, where A = Ce, La, Nd, or Sm (or, rarely, Bi), and B = P or, rarely, As.
The A site may also bear Ca and Th.