Cheralite, a new mineral of the monazite group

Abstract

A Green mineral akin to monazite, derived from the State of Travancore in southern India, was investigated chemically during the first world war by the Imperial Institute, London, and was found to be exceptionally rich in thorium and uranium. No description of this unusual 'monazite' has hitherto been published.The high content of radioactive elements in this mineral led the State Geologist, Mr. Venkitarama Mahadevan, to have a deposit opened up in 1945, in readiness for an assessment of the radioactive mineral resources of Travancore. At the invitation of the former Dewan, Sir C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar, K.C.S.I., K.C.I.E., this assessment was carried out by Dr. C. F. Davidson early in 1946.