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Thornasite

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

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Formula:
(Na,K)Th,Si
 
11
(O,OH,F,Cl)
 
25
·8H
 
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
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Type Occurrence of Thornasite

Type Locality:Poudrette quarry (Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Desourdy quarry), Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
Year of Discovery:1987

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)

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)Th,Si
 
11
(O,OH,F,Cl)
 
25
·8H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, Na, O, Th
All elements listed in formula:Cl, F, 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
Th[SiO
 
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:Canadian Mineralogist (1987): 25: 181-183.

American Mineralogist (1988): 73: 931.

American Mineralogist (2000): 85: 1521-1525.

Internet Links for Thornasite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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    Localities for Thornasite

    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.
    Canada
     
    • Québec
      • Montérégie
        • Lajemmerais RCM
          • Varennes & St-Amable
            • Saint-Amable sill
    		Mineralogical Record: 29: 83.
        • 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: 181-83; Clark, 1993 - "Hey's Mineral Index"]
    Namibia
     
    • Khomas Region
      • Windhoek District
        • Windhoek
          • Aris
    		Paula Piilonen, unpublished results
    Mineral and/or Locality
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