Lanthanite-(Nd), Nd₂(CO₃)₃·8H₂O

Lanthanite-(Nd), ideally Nd₂(CO₃)₃·8H₂O [dineodymium(III) tricarbonate octa­hydrate], is a member of the lanthanite mineral group characterized by the general formula REE₂(CO₃)₃·8H₂O, where REE is a 10-coordinated rare earth element. Based on single-crystal X-ray diffraction of a natural sample from Mitsukoshi, Hizen-cho, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, Japan, this study presents the first structure determination of lanthanite-(Nd). Its structure is very similar to that of other members of the lanthanite group. It is composed of infinite sheets made up of corner- and edge-sharing of two NdO₁₀-polyhedra (both with site symmetry ..2) and two carbonate triangles (site symmetries ..2 and 1) parallel to the ab plane, and stacked perpendicular to c. These layers are linked to one another only through hydrogen bonding involving the water mol­ecules.