Monazite-(Gd), ideally GdPO₄, is a new mineral of the monazite group. It was discovered near Prakovce-Zimná Voda, ~23 km WNW of Košice, Western Carpathians, Slovakia. It forms anhedral domains (≤100 μm, mostly 10–50 μm in size), in close association with monazite-(Sm), Gd-bearing xenotime-(Y), Gd-bearing hingganite-(Y), fluorapatite and uraninite. All these minerals are hosted in a REE–U–Au quartz–muscovite vein, hosted in phyllites in an exocontact to granites. The density calculated using the average empirical formula and unit-cell parameters is 5.55 g/cm³. The average chemical composition measured by means of electron microprobe is as follows (wt.%): P₂O₅ 29.68, As₂O₅ 0.15, SiO₂ 0.07, ThO₂ 0.01, UO₂ 0.04, Y₂O₃ 1.30, La₂O₃ 3.19, Ce₂O₃ 6.93, Pr₂O₃ 1.12, Nd₂O₃ 10.56, Sm₂O₃ 17.36, Eu₂O₃ 1.49, Gd₂O₃ 22.84, Tb₂O₃ 1.57, Dy₂O₃ 2.27, CaO 0.21, total 99.67. The corresponding empirical formula calculated on the basis of 4 oxygen atoms is: (Gd_0.30Sm_0.24Nd_0.15Ce_0.10La_0.05Dy_0.03Y_0.03Tb_0.02Eu_0.02Pr_0.02Ca_0.01)_0.98P_1.01O₄. The ideal formula is GdPO₄. The monazite-type structure has been confirmed by micro-Raman spectroscopy and selected-area electron diffraction. Monazite-(Gd) is monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, a = 6.703(1) Å, b = 6.914(1) Å, c = 6.383(1) Å, β = 103.8(1)°, V = 287.3(1) ų and Z = 4. The middle REE enrichment of monazite-(Gd) is shared with the associated Gd-bearing xenotime-(Y) to ‘xenotime-(Gd)’ and Gd-bearing hingganite-(Y). This exotic REE signature and precipitation of Gd-bearing mineral assemblage is a product of selective complexing and enrichment in middle REE in low-temperature hydrothermal fluids by alteration of primary uraninite, brannerite and fluorapatite on a micro-scale. The new mineral is named as an analogue of monazite-(La), monazite-(Ce), monazite-(Nd) and monazite-(Sm) but with Gd dominant among the REE.

Xenotime-(Gd), ideally GdPO₄, is a new mineral of the xenotime group. It was discovered at the Zimná Voda REE–U–Au occurrence near Prakovce, Western Carpathians, Slovakia. It forms rare crystal domains (≤20 μm, usually ≤10 μm in size) in Gd-rich xenotime-(Y) crystals (≤100 μm in size), in association with monazite-group minerals, uraninite, fluorapatite and uranyl arsenates–phosphates. The hydrothermal REE–U–Au mineralisation occurs in a quartz–muscovite vein, hosted in Palaeozoic phyllites near exocontact with Permian granites. The density is 5.26 g/cm³, based on calculated average empirical formula and unit-cell parameters. The average chemical composition (n = 6) measured by electron microprobe is as follows (wt.%): P₂O₅ 30.1, As₂O₅ 0.5, SiO₂ 0.2, UO₂ 0.3, Y₂O₃ 15.7, (La, Ce, Pr, Nd)₂O₃ 0.5, Sm₂O₃ 5.7, Eu₂O₃ 1.4, Gd₂O₃ 29.2, Tb₂O₃ 3.9, Dy₂O₃ 10.4, Ho₂O₃ 0.4, (Er, Tm, Yb, Lu)₂O₃ 2.1, (Ca, Fe, Pb, Mn, Ba)O 0.1, total 100.5. The corresponding empirical formula calculated on the basis of 4 oxygen atoms is: (Gd_0.37Y_0.32Dy_0.13Sm_0.08Tb_0.05Eu_0.02Er_0.01Tm_0.01Nd_0.01…)_Σ1.01(P_0.98As_0.01Si_0.01)O₄. The empirical formula of the Gd-richest composition is: (Gd_0.38Y_0.31Dy_0.13Sm_0.08Tb_0.05Eu_0.02Er_0.01Nd_0.01Ho_0.01…)_Σ1.01(P_0.98As_0.01Si_0.01)O₄. The ideal formula is GdPO₄. The xenotime-type structure has been confirmed by micro-Raman spectroscopy and a Fast Fourier-Transform pattern using HRTEM. Xenotime-(Gd) is tetragonal, space group I4₁/amd, a = 6.9589(5) Å, c = 6.0518(6) Å, V = 293.07(3) ų and Z = 4. The new mineral is named as an analogue of xenotime-(Y) and xenotime-(Yb) with Gd dominant among the REE. The middle REE enrichment of xenotime-(Gd) is shared with the associated monazite-(Gd) and Gd-rich hingganite-(Y). This exotic REE signature and precipitation of Gd-bearing minerals is a product of selective complexing and enrichment in MREE in low-temperature hydrothermal fluids by alteration of uraninite, brannerite and fluorapatite on a micro-scale. The existence of xenotime-(Gd) and monazite-(Gd) is the first naturally documented dimorphism among REE phosphates. In addition, xenotime-(Gd) is only the third approved Gd-dominant mineral, after lepersonnite-(Gd) and monazite-(Gd).

Calc–alkaline lamprophyres are known from several localities in the Malá Fatra Mountains. They form dykes (0.5–3 m) of varying degree of alteration that have intruded the surrounding granitoid rocks which are often incorporated xenoliths. Clinopyroxenes (diopside to augite), amphiboles (kaersutitic), biotites (annite) and plagioclases are major primary minerals of the dykes, accessory minerals include apatite, ilmenite, rutile, pyrite, chalcopyrite, and pyrrhotite. Apatite has a relatively low F, but increased Cl content compared to typical apatite from lamprophyres or magmatic apatite from granitic rocks in the Western Carpathians. The chemical composition of the lamprophyres indicates their calc–alkaline character, but affinity to alkaline lamprophyres is suggested by the Ti enrichment in clinopyroxene, amphibole and biotite. According to modal classification of the minerals, the studied rocks correspond to spessartite. The differences in the chemical composition of the rocks (including Sr and Nd isotopes) probably result from the contamination of primary magma by crustal material during magma ascent. The age of the lamprophyres, based on U/Pb dating in apatite, is 263.4 ± 2.6 Ma.

A hydrothermal quartz vein with REE-U-Au mineralization in the Zimná Voda (Gemeric Unit, Western Carpathians, Slovakia) is associated with contact metamorphism between Permian granites and host phyllites and metaquartzites. It contains unique REE minerals of the monazite and xenotime groups. Monazite-(Ce), monazite-(Nd), monazite-(Sm), and Gd-dominant monazite [“monazite-(Gd)”], along with xenotime-(Y) to Gd-dominant xenotime [“xenotime-(Gd)”] and Gd-rich hingganite-(Y) show heterogeneous compositions and reflect a strong fractionation trend toward the enrichment of MREE (Sm to Dy), particularly Gd. Here, the gadolinium abundance reported in “monazite-(Gd)” (≤23.4 wt% Gd2O3) and Gd-rich xenotime-(Y) to “xenotime-(Gd)” (≤28.7 wt% Gd2O3) and accompanied by Gd-rich hingganite-(Y) (≤15.8 wt% Gd2O3), is among the highest Gd concentrations ever reported in natural minerals. The Gd-richest compositions show the following formulas: (Gd0.31Sm0.24 Nd0.15Ce0.10La0.05Dy0.03Y0.03…)0.98PO4 [“monazite-(Gd)”], (Gd0.36Y0.32Dy0.13Sm0.08Tb0.05…)0.98 (P0.96As0.04)1.00O4 [“xenotime-(Gd)”] and (Y0.71Gd0.43Dy0.23Sm0.22Tb0.06Er0.04Nd0.06…Ca0.06)1.96 (☐0.87Fe0.132+)1.00(Be1.82B0.18)2.00(Si1.90As0.10)2.00O8(OH1.70O0.30)2.00 [hingganite-(Y)]. The MREE-rich monazites, xenotimes, and hingganite-(Y) precipitated in response to the alteration of primary uraninite, brannerite, and fluorapatite by low-temperature hydrothermal fluids of heterogeneous compositions on a microscale. These are responsible for the strong enrichment of individual MREE, especially Gd in the secondary minerals. This is accompanied by the advancing development of the W-type tetrad effect on REE through monazite species. The substantial incorporation of Gd into both REE-selective monazite and xenotime structures that are accompanied by LREE vs. HREE segregation indicates the possibility of differently sized REE3+ miscibility in REEPO4 solid solutions, as well as the stabilization of the Gd-rich orthophosphate structure by substitution of the remaining A-site cations with smaller HREE+Y in the xenotime-type, and/or larger LREE in the monazite-type structure.