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The Mineral thorite

Thorite Crystal

Thorite is named for its content of the rare element thorium. It is isomorphous with Zircon and occurs in the same crystal habits. Thorite is the most prevalent mineral containing the radioactive element thorium. However, it is not as important as the primary thorium ore, Monazite, since the extraction process of the ore from Thorite is more difficult then that of Monazite.

Thorite, being radioactive, must be stored with all the precautions exercised with radioactive minerals. The radioactivity of Thorite often brings it to a state of metamiction, in which its crystal structure becomes unstable thereby causing the crystal edges to become smooth and rounded. When this happens, the Thorite may gain hydroxyl (OH) molecules in place of the silica (SiO₄) molecules and transform into a different mineral, Thorogummite.

Chemical Formula

ThSiO₄
Since Thorite often contains considerable uranium, its formula may also be written as (Th,U)SiO₄

Color

Black, reddish-brown, brown, orange, orange-yellow, green

Crystal System

Tetragonal

Properties

Streak
Light brown

Hardness
4.5 - 5

Transparency
Opaque. Rarely transparent.

Specific Gravity
4.0 - 6.7

Luster
Resinous to pitchy

Cleavage
3,2

Fracture
Conchoidal to splintery

Tenacity
Brittle

Crystal Habits

As stubby and prismatic crystals, which are usually terminated. Crystals are rarely as elongated prisms. Most often grainy, reniform, as fibrous masses, and massive. Crystals are usually rounded at the edges due to the metamict nature of Thorite caused by radioactivity.

Additional Information

Composition
Thorium silicate, almost always with some uranium, and sometimes with zirconium, hafnium, and yttrium

In Group
Silicates; Nesosilicates

Striking Features
High specific gravity, luster, and strong radioactivity

Environment
In rare earth granite pegmatites and pyroclastic volcanic deposits.

Rock Type
Igneous

Other Names

Torite

Varieties

Calciotherite

- Calcium-rich variety of Thorite.

Orangite

- Orange variety of Thorite.

Thorogummite

- Highly radioactive replacement pseudomorph of Thorite that has hydroxyl (OH) molecules replacing some of the silica molecules. Though sometimes considered a variety of Thorite, it is classified as a unique mineral species.

Uranothorite

- Uranium-rich variety of Thorite, containing up to half of the thorium replaced by uranium.

Uses

Thorite is an important ore of the radioactive element thorium.

Noteworthy Localities

Thorite is not a common mineral. European localities include Arendal, Langesundfjord, Norway; the Laach Lake Volcanic Complex, Eifel Mountains, Germany; the San Vito Quarry, Monte Somma, Vesuvious, Italy; and Vetralla and Bassano Romano, Viterbo Province, Italy. Other worldwide occurrences include Mogok, Burma (Myanmar); and Vorondolo, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar.

In Canada, Thorite comes from Ontario in the Bancroft District, Hastings Co.; and from the Kemp prospect, Cheddar, Haliburton Co. In the U.S., Thorite comes from the the Thomas Range, Juab Co., Utah; Mount Rosa, El Paso Co., Colorado; the Butterfield and Seerie pegmatites, Jefferson Co., Colorado; and from the Barringer Hill, Llano Co., Texas.