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Thorite

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Thomas Range, Juab Co., Utah, USA

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Formula:
(Th,U)[SiO
 
4
]
System:TetragonalColour:Yellow, yellow-brown, ...
Hardness:4½
Name:The name reflects its thorium content.


Zircon Group. The thorium analogue of Zircon and Hafnon.

This is a rare mineral that is commonly hydrated, and is radioactive.

Classification of Thorite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/A.09-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.AD.30

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
D : Nesosilicates without additional anions; cations in [6] and/or greater coordination
Dana 8th edition ID:51.5.2.3

51 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups Only
5 : Insular SiO4 Groups Only with cations in >[6] coordination
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.11.1

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
11 : Silicates of Th and Hg
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Type Occurrence of Thorite

Type Locality:Løvøya (Løvø; Lövö), Langesundsfjorden, Porsgrunn, Telemark, Norway
Year of Discovery:1829

Physical Properties of Thorite

Lustre:Resinous, Greasy, Dull
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Yellow, yellow-brown, red-brown, green, orange to black
Hardness (Mohs):4½

Crystallography of Thorite

Crystal System:Tetragonal
Cell Parameters:a = 7.13Å, c = 6.32Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.886
Unit Cell Volume:V 321.29 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Thorite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.790 - 1.840 nε = 1.780 - 1.820
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.010 - 0.020

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

Chemical Properties of Thorite

Formula:
(Th,U)[SiO
 
4
]
Essential elements:O, Si, Th
All elements listed in formula:O, Si, Th, U
Common Impurities:Al,Fe,Pb,Ca,P,Ti,TR,Mg,H2O

Relationship of Thorite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.AD.05Larnite
Ca
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AD.05Calcio-Olivine
Ca
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AD.15Merwinite
Ca
 
3
Mg[SiO
 
4
]
 
2
9.AD.20Bredigite
Ca
 
7
Mg[SiO
 
4
]
 
4
9.AD.25Andradite
Ca
 
3
Fe
3+
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Almandine
Fe
2+
3
Al
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Calderite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)
 
3
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Goldmanite
Ca
 
3
(V
3+
 
,Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Grossular
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Henritermierite
Ca
 
3
(Mn
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
9.AD.25Hibschite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
6-1
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1.5-2.5
]
9.AD.25Hydroandradite
9.AD.25Katoite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
8-6
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-1.5
]
9.AD.25Kimzeyite
Ca
 
3
(Zr,Ti)
 
2
[(Si,Al,Fe
3+
 
)O
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Knorringite
Mg
 
3
Cr
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Majorite
Mg
 
3
(Fe
2+
 
,Si,Al)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Morimotoite
Ca
 
3
(Ti,Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
[(Si,Fe
3+
 
)O
 
4
]
 
3
 (?)
9.AD.25Pyrope
Mg
 
3
Al
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Schorlomite
Ca
 
3
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
[(Si,Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)O
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Spessartine
Mn
2+
3
Al
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Uvarovite
Ca
 
3
Cr
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Wadalite
Ca
 
6
(Al,Mg)
 
4
[Cl
 
3
|O
 
4
|{(Si,Al,Fe
3+
 
)O
 
4
}
 
3
]
9.AD.25Holtstamite
Ca
 
3
(Al,Mn
3+
 
)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
9.AD.30Coffinite
(U,Th)[(OH)
 
4x
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-x
]
9.AD.30Hafnon
(Hf,Zr)[SiO
 
4
]
9.AD.30Thorogummite
(Th,U)[(OH)
 
4x
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-x
]
9.AD.30Zircon
Zr[SiO
 
4
]
9.AD.35Huttonite
Th[SiO
 
4
]
9.AD.35Tombarthite-(Y)
Y
 
4
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.40Eulytine
Bi
 
4
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.45Reidite
Zr[SiO
 
4
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
14.11.2Huttonite
Th[SiO
 
4
]
14.11.3Umbozerite
Na
 
3
Sr
 
4
Th[Si(O,OH)
 
3-4
]
 
8
14.11.4Thornasite
(Na,K)Th,Si
 
11
(O,OH,F,Cl)
 
25
·8H
 
2
O
14.11.5Yttrialite-(Y)
(Y,Th)
 
2
[Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.11.6Edgarbaileyite
(Hg-Hg)
 
3
[Si
 
2
O
 
7
]

Other Names for Thorite

Synonyms:
Torite
German names:
ThoritTorit
Russian names:
Торит
Spanish names:
ThoritaTorita
Varieties:
AuerliteCalciothoriteFerrithoriteGel-ThoriteHydroauerlite
MozambikiteOrangiteUranohydrothoriteUranothoriteYanshainshynite

Other Information

Health Warning:Contains thorium and uranium - always wash hands after handling. Avoid inhaling dust when handling or breaking. Never lick or ingest. Avoid prolonged exposure in proximity of the body. Store away from inhabited areas.

References for Thorite

Reference List:Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens Handlingar (1829), 1-30.

Acta Crystallographica: B34: 1074-1079.

Canadian Mineralogist (1989): 27: 643.

Internet Links for Thorite

Search Engines:
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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Thorite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Thorite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Thorite

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