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Thoreaulite

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

Show Thoreaulite Photos (2)
Formula:
SnTa
 
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).


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
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Type Occurrence of Thoreaulite

Type Locality:Manono, 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:
SnTa
 
2
O
 
6
Essential elements:O, Sn, Ta
All elements listed in formula:O, 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,Ta,Ti)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DG.05Fersmite
(Ca,Ce,Na)(Nb,Ta,Ti)
 
2
(O,OH,F)
 
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
PbWO
 
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,Pb,Li)
 
3
(Ta,Nb,Al)
 
11
(O,OH)
 
30
18.1.8Kalipyrochlore
(K,Sr)
 
2-x
Nb
 
2
O
 
6
(O,OH)·nH
 
2
O
18.1.9Calciotantite
CaTa
 
4
O
 
11
18.1.10Rynersonite
Ca(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.11Microlite
(Ca,Na)
 
2
Ta
 
2
O
 
6
(O,OH,F)
18.1.12Belyankinite
Ca
 
1-2
(Ti,Zr,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
Ba(Ta,Nb)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7
18.1.16Parabariomicrolite
BaTa
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
18.1.17Bariopyrochlore
(Ba,Sr)
 
2-x
(Nb,Ti)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7
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
(Sn,Fe,Mn)
 
2
(Ta,Nb,Sn)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7
18.1.23Foordite
(Sn,Pb)(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.24Changbaiite
PbNb
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.25Plumbopyrochlore
(Pb,Ca,Y,U)
 
2-x
(Nb,Ta,Ti)
 
2
O
 
6
(OH,O)
18.1.26Plumbomicrolite
(Pb,Ca,U)
 
2-x
(Ta,Nb,Sn)
 
2
O
 
6
(O,[])
18.1.27Stibiocolumbite
Sb(Nb,Ta)O
 
4
18.1.28Stibiotantalite
Sb(Ta,Nb)O
 
4
18.1.29Natrobistantite
(Na,Cs)Bi(Ta,Nb,Sb)
 
4
O
 
12
18.1.30Cesplumtantite
(Cs,Na)
 
2
(Pb,Sb
3+
 
)
 
3
Ta
 
8
O
 
24
18.1.31Stibiomicrolite
(Sb,Ca,Na)
 
2
(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
7
18.1.32Cesstibtantite
(Cs,Na)SbTa
 
4
O
 
12
18.1.33 Stibobetafite
(Ca,Sb)
 
2
(Ti,Nb,Ta)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7
18.1.34Bismutotantalite
Bi(Ta,Nb)O
 
4
18.1.35Bismutomicrolite
(Bi,Ca)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
(OH)
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
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 (1933), Ann. Soc. Géol. 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

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    Localities for Thoreaulite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
    (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
     
    • Southeast Region
      • Minas Gerais
        • Jequitinhonha valley
          • Itinga
            • Monte Belo
    		[MinRec 12:74]
    Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
     
    • Katanga (Shaba)
    		[Clark, 1993 - "Hey's Mineral Index"]
    No reference listed
    Kazakhstan
     
    • Shyghys Qazaqstan Oblysy (Vostochno-Kazakhstanskaya [Eastern-Kazakhstan] Oblast')
      • Kalba Range
        • Irtysh River
    		Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    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.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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