Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Messageboard The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Mineral Chatroom The Mindat Store

Thoreaulite

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Big Photo

Ognevka Ta Deposit, Kalba Range, Eastern Kazakhstan Province (Shyghys Qazaqstan Oblysy; Vostochno-Kazakhstanskaya Oblast'), Kazakhstan
© Thomas Witzke

Show Thoreaulite Photos (4)



Formula:
(Sn
2+
 
,Pb)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
System:MonoclinicColour:Brown to yellow
Lustre:Adamantine, ResinousHardness:5½ - 6
Name:
Named after Jacques Thoreau (1886-1973), Professor of Mineralogy, Université Catholique de Louvain-UCL (Belgium).
Isostructural with:Foordite


Foordite-Thoreaulite Series.

Classification of Thoreaulite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/D.29-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.DG.15

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
G : With large (+- medium-sized) cations; chains of edge-sharing octahedra
Dana 7th edition ID:8.3.10.1
Dana 8th edition ID:8.3.10.1

8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
3 : AB2O6
Hey's CIM Ref.:18.1.21

18 : Niobates and Tantalates
1 : Niobates and tantalates containing neither rare earths nor U
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-3943.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Thoreaulite

Type Locality:Manono Mine, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Year of Discovery:1933

Physical Properties of Thoreaulite

Lustre:Adamantine, Resinous
Colour:Brown to yellow
Streak:Yellow or greenish
Hardness (Mohs):5½ - 6
Cleavage:Perfect
On {100}; on {011} imperfect.
Density (measured):7.6 - 7.9 g/cm3

Crystallography of Thoreaulite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 17.14Å, b = 4.86Å, c = 5.54Å
β = 91°
Ratio:a:b:c = 3.527 : 1 : 1.14
Unit Cell Volume:V 461.41 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals rough, prismatic [001].
Twinning:Lamellar twins, with composition face {010}.

Optical Data of Thoreaulite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 2.390 nβ = 2.420 nγ = 2.520
2V:Measured: 25° to 35°, Calculated: 60°
Birefringence:On {100} cleavages = 0.039.
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.130

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:r < v

Chemical Properties of Thoreaulite

Formula:
(Sn
2+
 
,Pb)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
Idealised Formula:
Sn
2+
 
Ta
 
2
O
 
6
Essential elements:O, Sn, Ta
All elements listed in formula:Nb, O, Pb, Sn, Ta

Relationship of Thoreaulite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Foordite (see here)
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.DG.05Euxenite-(Y)
(Y,Ca,Ce,U,Th)(Nb,Ti,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DG.05Fersmite
(Ca,Y)(Nb,Ta,Ti)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
4.DG.05Kobeite-(Y)
(Y,Zr)
 
2
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7
4.DG.05Loranskite-(Y)
(Y,Ce,Ca)ZrTaO
 
6
 (?)
4.DG.05Polycrase-(Y)
(Y,U)(Ti,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DG.05Tanteuxenite-(Y)
(Y,Ce,Ca)(Ta,Nb,Ti)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
4.DG.05Uranopolycrase
(U
4+
 
,Y)(Ti,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DG.05Yttrocrasite-(Y)
(Y,Th,Ca,U)(Ti,Fe)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
4.DG.10β-Fergusonite-(Y)
YNbO
 
4
4.DG.10β-Fergusonite-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce)NbO
 
4
4.DG.10β-Fergusonite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Nd)NbO
 
4
4.DG.10Yttrotantalite-(Y)
(Y,Ca,U
4+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
8
4.DG.10Beta-Fergusonite-(Nd)
4.DG.15Foordite
(Sn,Pb)(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DG.20Raspite
Pb(WO
 
4
)
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
18.1.1Lithiotantite
Li(Ta,Nb)
 
3
O
 
8
18.1.2Lueshite
NaNbO
 
3
18.1.3Natroniobite
NaNbO
 
3
18.1.4Franconite
Na
 
2
Nb
 
4
O
 
11
 · 9H
 
2
O
18.1.5Natrotantite
Na
 
2
Ta
 
4
O
 
11
18.1.6Irtyshite
Na
 
2
(Ta,Nb)
 
4
O
 
11
18.1.7Rankamaite
(Na,K)
 
3
(Ta,Nb,Al)
 
11
(O,OH)
 
31
18.1.8Hydropyrochlore
(H
 
2
O,□)
 
2
Nb
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
(H
 
2
O)
18.1.9Calciotantite
CaTa
 
4
O
 
11
18.1.10Rynersonite
Ca(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.11Microlite Group
18.1.12Belyankinite
Ca
 
1-2
(Ti,Nb)
 
5
O
 
12
 · 9H
 
2
O (?)
18.1.13Latrappite
(Ca,Na)(Nb,Ti,Fe)O
 
3
18.1.14Hochelagaite
(Ca,Na,Sr)(Nb,Ti,Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
11
 · 8H
 
2
O
18.1.15Bariomicrolite (of Hogarth 1977)
18.1.16Parabariomicrolite
BaTa
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
18.1.17Bariopyrochlore (of Hogarth 1977)
18.1.18Alumotantite
AlTaO
 
4
18.1.19Simpsonite
Al
 
4
(Ta,Nb)
 
3
O
 
13
(OH,F)
18.1.20Sosedkoite
(K,Na)
 
5
Al
 
2
(Ta,Nb)
 
22
O
 
60
18.1.22Stannomicrolite (of Hogarth 1977)
18.1.23Foordite
(Sn,Pb)(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.24Changbaiite
PbNb
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.25Plumbopyrochlore (of Skorobogatova et al.)
18.1.26Plumbomicrolite (of Hogarth 1977)
18.1.27Stibiocolumbite
Sb(Nb,Ta)O
 
4
18.1.28Stibiotantalite
Sb(Ta,Nb)O
 
4
18.1.29Natrobistantite
18.1.30Cesplumtantite
(Cs,Na)
 
2
(Pb,Sb
3+
 
)
 
3
Ta
 
8
O
 
24
18.1.31Stibiomicrolite (of Groat et al.)
18.1.32Cesstibtantite
18.1.34Bismutotantalite
Bi(Ta,Nb)O
 
4
18.1.35Bismutomicrolite (of Hogarth 1977)
18.1.36Tantalite-(Mn)
MnTa
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.37Gerasimovskite
(Mn,Ca)(Nb,Ti)
 
5
O
 
12
 · 9H
 
2
O
18.1.38Tapiolite-(Mn)
(Mn,Fe)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.39Columbite-(Mn)
(Mn,Fe)(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.40Wodginite
Mn(Sn,Ta)Ta
 
2
O
 
8
18.1.41Ixiolite
(Ta,Nb,Sn,Fe,Mn)
 
4
O
 
8
18.1.42Columbite-(Fe)
FeNb
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.43Tantalite-(Fe)
FeTa
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.44Columbite
(Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.45Tantalite
(Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.46Tapiolite
(Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.47Tapiolite-(Fe)
(Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.48Columbite-(Mg)
(Mg,Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.50Strüverite
(Ti,Ta,Fe)O
 
2
18.1.51 Staringite
(Fe,Mn)
 
x
(Ta,Nb)
 
2x
Sn
 
6-3x
O
 
12

Other Names for Thoreaulite

Synonyms:
Thorolite
Other Languages:
German:Thoreaulit
Thorolit
Russian:Торолит
Simplified Chinese:钽锡矿
Spanish:Thoreaulita
Thorolita

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Thoreaulite

Reference List:

- +
Buttgenbach, H.(1933): La thoreaulite, nouvelle espéce minérale. Annales de la Société géologique de Belgique. 56: 327-328

American Mineralogist (1934): 19: 236.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 802.

American Mineralogist (1970): 55: 367-377.

American Mineralogist (1974): 59: 1026-1039.

Canadian Mineralogist (1988): 26: 899-903. (structure {Foordite}).

Internet Links for Thoreaulite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Thoreaulite on Google
  • Look for Thoreaulite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Thoreaulite on Webmineral
  • Look for Thoreaulite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Thoreaulite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Thoreaulite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Buy RARE Minerals from Rocks of Africa
  • Search for - Thoreaulite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Search for Thoreaulite on Well-Arranged Molecules
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Thoreaulite specimens
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
  • Fine and rare minerals from mintreasure.com
  • Thoreaulite specimens for sale - minfind.com
  • Search for minerals at Heliodor
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Localities for Thoreaulite

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    Hide Locality List
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Brazil
     
    • Minas Gerais
      • Jequitinhonha valley
        • Itinga
          • Monte Belo
    		[MinRec 12:74]
    China
     
    • Heilongjiang Province (Manchuria; Dongbei Region)
      • Hegang Prefecture
        • Luobei Co.
    		Deshi Lu (1993): Geology and Prospecting 29(6), 8-12
    Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
     
    • Katanga (Shaba)
    		Buttgenbach, H.(1933): La thoreaulite, nouvelle espéce minérale. Annales de la Société géologique de Belgique. 56: 327-328
    No reference listed
    Henri Buttgenbach (1947) Les minéraux de Belgique et du Congo belge
    • Nord-Kivu
    		Vik Vanrusselt photo & specimen (Ex Rik Dillen specimen)
    Kazakhstan
     
    • Eastern Kazakhstan Province (Shyghys Qazaqstan Oblysy; Vostochno-Kazakhstanskaya Oblast')
      • Kalba Range
        • Irtysh River
    		Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    Voloshin, A.V., Pakomovskii, Ya.A., Stepanov, V.I., Tyusheva, F.N. (1983): Lithiotantite, Li,(Ta,Nb)3O8, a new mineral from granite pegmatites of Eastern Kazakhstan. Mineralogiceskij Zhurnal, 5(1), 91-95. Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    Rwanda
     
    • Kabaya District
    		Ann. Soc. Geol. Belgique, Vol. 73, No. 8, p. 213-218, 1950.
    • Western Province
      • Gatumba District
    		Bertossa, A., 1967. Inventaire des minéraux du Rwanda. Bulletin du Service Géologique de Rwanda 4, 25-45.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Search Google
     
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2013. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them. Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
    Current server date and time: 16th May 2013 14:02:36
    Mineral and Locality Search
    Mineral:
    and/or Locality:
    Options
    Fade toolbar when not in focusFix toolbar to bottom of page
    Hide Social Media Links
    Slideshow frame delay seconds