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Thornasite

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Demix-Varennes quarry, Saint-Amable sill, Varennes & St-Amable, Lajemmerais RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada

Show Thornasite Photos (13)



Formula:
(Na,K)
 
12
Th
 
3
[Si
 
8
O
 
19
]
 
4
 · 18H
 
2
O
System:TrigonalColour:Light green to beige
Name:The name reflects its composition: thorium (Thor), sodium (Na) and silicon (Si).
This page provides mineralogical data about Thornasite.

Classification of Thornasite

IMA status:Approved 1985
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/D.20-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.GF.50

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
G : Tektosilicates with zeolitic H2O; zeolite family
F : Other Rare Zeolites
Dana 8th edition ID:72.1.2.1

72 : PHYLLOSILICATES Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings
1 : Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings with 4-membered rings
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.11.4

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
11 : Silicates of Th and Hg
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-3947.html
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Type Occurrence of Thornasite

Type Locality:Poudrette quarry (Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Desourdy quarry; Carrière Mont Saint-Hilaire), Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
Year of Discovery:1985

Physical Properties of Thornasite

Lustre:Greasy, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent, Opaque
Colour:Light green to beige

Crystallography of Thornasite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Cell Parameters:a = 29.08Å, c = 17.3Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.595
Unit Cell Volume:V 12,669.68 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
14.54 (20)
8.17 (30)
7.27 (100)
5.09 (20)
4.17 (70)
3.239 (30)
2.890 (25)

Optical Data of Thornasite

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 1.510 nε = 1.512
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.002

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

Chemical Properties of Thornasite

Formula:
(Na,K)
 
12
Th
 
3
[Si
 
8
O
 
19
]
 
4
 · 18H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, Na, O, Si, Th
All elements listed in formula:H, K, Na, O, Si, Th
Common Impurities:U,Al,Ca,Cl

Relationship of Thornasite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.GF.05Terranovaite
(Na,Ca)
 
8
(Si
 
68
Al
 
12
)O
 
160
 · 29H
 
2
O
9.GF.10Gottardiite
Na
 
3
Mg
 
3
Ca
 
5
Al
 
19
Si
 
117
O
 
272
 · 93H
 
2
O
9.GF.15Lovdarite
(Na,K,Ca)
 
4
(Be,Al)
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.GF.20Gaultite
Na
 
4
Zn
 
2
Si
 
7
O
 
18
 · 5H
 
2
O
9.GF.25Chiavennite
CaMnBe
 
2
Si
 
5
O
 
13
(OH)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.GF.30Tschernichite
(Ca,Na
 
2
)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 4-8H
 
2
O
9.GF.35Mutinaite
Na
 
3
Ca
 
4
Si
 
85
Al
 
11
O
 
192
 · 60H
 
2
O
9.GF.40Tschörtnerite
Ca
 
4
(Ca,Sr,K,Ba)
 
3
Cu
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
3
Si
 
3
O
 
12
]
 
4
 · nH
 
2
O
9.GF.55Direnzoite
NaK
 
6
MgCa
 
2
(Al
 
13
Si
 
47
O
 
120
) · 36H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.11.1Thorite
(Th,U)SiO
 
4
14.11.2Huttonite
ThSiO
 
4
14.11.3Umbozerite
Na
 
3
Sr
 
4
Th[Si(O,OH)
 
3-4
]
 
8
14.11.5Yttrialite-(Y)
(Y,Th)
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
7
14.11.6Edgarbaileyite
(Hg-Hg)
 
3
Si
 
2
O
 
7

Other Names for Thornasite

Synonyms:
IMA1985-050
Other Languages:
German:Thornasit
Russian:Торнасит
Spanish:Thornasita

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 Thornasite

Reference List:

- +
ANSELL, V.E., and CHAO, G.Y. (1987) Thornasite, a new hydrous sodium thorium silicate from Mont St Hilaire, Quebec. Canadian Mineralogist, 25, 181 183.
LI, Y., KRIVOVICHEV, V., and BURNS, P.C. (2000) The crystal structure of thornasite, Na12Th3[Si8O19]4(H2O)18: A novel interrupted Silicate framework. American Mineralogist, 85, 1521-1525;
LI, Y., KRIVOVICHEV, V., and BURNS, P.C. (2001) Errata. American Mineralogist, 86, 384.
HORVÁTH, L., PFENNINGER HORVÁTH, E., GAULT, R.A., and TARASSOFF, P. (1998) Mineralogy of the Saint Amable sill, Varennes and Saint Amable, Québec, Canada. Mineralogical Record, 29, 83 118.

Internet Links for Thornasite

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    • Localities for Thornasite

    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.
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    (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.
    Canada
     
    • Québec
      • Montérégie
        • Lajemmerais RCM
          • Varennes & St-Amable
            • Saint-Amable sill
    		Horváth, L., Pfenninger-Horváth, E., Gault, R. A., & Tarassoff, P. (1998): Mineralogy of the Saint-Amable Sill, Varennes and Saint-Amable, Québec. Mineralogical Record, 29: 83-118.
        • Rouville RCM
          • Mont Saint-Hilaire
    		ANSELL, V.E., and CHAO, G.Y. (1987) Thornasite, a new hydrous sodium thorium silicate from Mont St Hilaire, Quebec. Canadian Mineralogist, 25, 181-183. LI, Y., KRIVOVICHEV, V., and BURNS, P.C. (2000) The crystal structure of thornasite, Na12Th3[Si8O19]4(H2O)18: A novel interrupted Silicate framework. American Mineralogist, 85, 1521-1525; LI, Y., KRIVOVICHEV, V., and BURNS, P.C. (2001) Errata. American Mineralogist, 86, 384. HORVÁTH, L., and GAULT, R.G. (1990) The mineralogy of Mont Saint Hilaire. Mineralogical Record, 21, 284 359.
    Namibia
     
    • Khomas Region
      • Windhoek District
        • Aris
    		Paula Piilonen, unpublished results Horváth specimen collected in 2011 confirmed by XRD
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