Listing description
Thorite, (Th,U)SiO4, is a rare nesosilicate of thorium that crystallizes in the tetragonal system and is
isomorphous with zircon and hafnon. It is the most common mineral of thorium and is nearly
always strongly radioactive.
Detailed description
It was named in 1829 to reflect its thorium content.
Thorite was discovered in 1828 on the island of Løvøya, Norway, by the vicar and mineralogist, Hans Morten
Thrane Esmark, who sent the first specimens of this black mineral to his
father, Jens Esmark, who was a professor of mineralogy and
geology.
Occurrence
Specimens of thorite generally come from igneous pegmatites and volcanic extrusive rocks,
hydrothermal veins and contact metamorphic
rocks. It is also known to occur as small grains in
detrital sands. Crystals are rare, but when found can produce nicely shaped
short prismatic crystals with pyramidal terminations. It is commonly associated
with zircon, monazite, gadolinite, fergusonite, uraninite, yttrialite and pyrochlore.[3]
Thorite is currently an important ore of uranium. A variety of thorite, often called "uranothorite",
is particularly rich in uranium and has been a viable uranium ore at Bancroft
in Ontario, Canada. Other varieties of thorite include "orangite", an
orange variety, and "calciothorite", an impure variety with trace
amounts of calcium.
Properties
Thorite is commonly metamict and hydrated, making it optically
isotropic and amorphous. Owing to differences in composition, the specific
gravity varies from 4.4 to 6.6 g/cm3. Hardness is 4.5 and the
luster is vitreous or resinous. The color is normally black, but also brownish
black, orange, yellowish-orange and dark green.
Because thorite is highly radioactive, specimens are
often metamict. This is a
condition found in radioactive minerals that results from the destructive
effects of its own radiation on its crystal
lattice. The effect can destroy a crystal lattice
completely while leaving the outward appearance unchanged.
PRICE
$8290/KG
For more information:
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contact person: emeaba uche
e-mail: emeabau@yahoo.com
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