Both minerals are considered to be important in the development of rare earth metal containing minerals in carbonatite rocks and are being studied for this reason. Some rare earth minerals have been found to make pseudomorphs of burbankite and carbocernaite. A testament perhaps of how they play a role in the rare earth minerals' development. Although both contain some rare earth metals, neither is common enough to be considered at present a viable source for these important metals. Carbocernaite originates to some degree in hydrothermal deposits and nepheline syenites, but more substantially in carbonatite rocks, an unusual igneous rock composed mostly of carbonate minerals.
Color is pale yellow, white, rose, brown and colorless.
Luster is vitreous to greasy. Crystal System is orthorhombic. Crystal Habits include small subhedral grains. Cleavage is poor in several directions, but not usually seen. Hardness is 3.