Parisite is closely related to Synchysite, Bastnasite and Rontgenite, and all belonging to the Bastnasite Group. These four minerals are of similar formulas and occurrence and are often inter-grown. A single crystal of any of these minerals probably contains at least one of the other minerals and possibly all four, making them difficult to distinguish from one another.
 

While Parisite contains Cerium, Neodymium and Lanthanum, the mineral is divided into two minerals based on which rare earth element is more predominant. Varieties of Parisite are Parisite-(Ce), the more common and Parisite-(Nd), the rarer. Though there is little difference in the two in terms of physical properties, most Parisite is actually Parisite-(Ce).
 

Parisite is white, tan, brown, yellow and pale pink in color. Parisite is a significant ore at the Bastnasite mines of Mountain Pass, California but can also be found Colombia, China, Canada, France, Germany, Greenland, Italy, Malawi, Norway, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, Brazil, South Korea, Vietnam and Switzerland.