The structure is closely studied because it is one of the few rare earth mineral structures that can accommodate variously sized cations. Cerium in most natural hydroxylbastnasites usually far and away dominates the others. Hydroxylbastnasite is an ore of cerium, an important industrial metal, but is far behind bastnasite and the phosphate mineral monazite as a source of the rare earth element. These deposits are depleted in fluorine and this the primary reason that hydroxylbastnasite and not bastnasite forms. Hydroxylbastnasite is also found to a lesser extent as a primary mineral in carbonate rich igneous rocks called carbonatites.
Color is pale white, yellow or brown.
Luster is vitreous, greasy to dull. Crystals are translucent to opaque. Crystal System is hexagonal. Crystal Habits include small hexagonal rounded platy crystals forming rosettes and short prismatic crystals. Also found in masses and grains.