Paratooite-(La)
Paratooite- is a complex lanthanum copper calcium sodium carbonate mineral, representing a unique elemental combination among the known minerals. It is a secondary, weathering mineral. There is a heterovalent diadochy substitution of lanthanum by strontium and calcium; also sodium is substituted by calcium in the mineral. Its structure proved to be more difficult to describe within the initial approach. It was later shown to be a superstructure of another rare earth carbonate mineral, carbocernaite. The "-" suffix in the mineral's name is known as Levinson suffix. It refers to the particular element, of a group of elements, that dominates in the particular structural site. As such, the element would show major, dominant occupancy at this particular site.