Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Thorite

Big Photo

Thomas Range, Juab Co., Utah, USA

Show Thorite Photos (74)
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
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-3946.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Thorite

Type Locality:Løvøya (Løvø; Lövö; Lövöe), 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

Member of Group:
Zircon Group:
MSiO
 
4
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.AD.05Larnite
Ca
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AD.10Calcio-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
Ca
 
3
Fe
3+
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3-x
(OH)
 
4x
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.25IMA2009-029
Ca
 
3
Zr
 
2
(Fe
3+
2
Si)O
 
12
9.AD.25IMA2009-033
Ca
 
3
Sn
 
2
(Fe
 
2
Si)O
 
12
9.AD.25IMA2009-026
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)
 
3
V
3+
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
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.30Stetindite
CeSiO
 
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
Other Languages:
Dutch:Thoriet
German:Thorit
Torit
Italian:Thorite
Lithuanian:Toritas
Russian:Торит
Spanish:Thorita
Torita
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:
  • Look for Thorite on Google
  • Look for Thorite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Thorite on Webmineral
  • Look for Thorite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Thorite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Thorite on Mineralien Atlas
  • 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)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • DAKOTA MATRIX offers Cabinet and Rare Species from Worldwide Localities.
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Wright's Rock Shop - excellent mineral specimens since 1970
  • SpiriferMinerals.com - high quality specimens
  • Search for - Thorite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Thorite specimens
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

    Localities for Thorite

    Show Locality List (634 Items)
    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.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the 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 hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 29th Oct 2009 09:26:41