Definitions

1. noun

A rare earth mineral, a lanthanide phosphate, typically occurring in pegmatites and consisting of lanthanum, cerium, and neodymium.

“The geologists discovered a new deposit of bastnaesite in the remote mountain region.”

2. noun

A mineral consisting of a mixture of lanthanides, particularly neodymium and cerium, often found in pegmatites.

“The mining company extracted bastnaesite from the site and sent it for processing.”