thorite

tho·rite

T0178000 (thôr′īt′)n. A vitreous brownish-yellow to black radioactive mineral, essentially ThSiO₄, an ore of thorium.

[thor(ium) + -ite.]

thorite

(ˈθɔːraɪt) n (Minerals) a yellow, brownish, or black radioactive mineral consisting of tetragonal thorium silicate. It occurs in coarse granite and is a source of thorium. Formula: ThSiO4

tho•rite

(ˈθɔr aɪt, ˈθoʊr-)

n. a rare radioactive mineral ore, thorium silicate, ThSiO₄, occurring as grains and crystals. [< Swedish thorit (1829); see thorium, -ite¹]

Thesaurus

Noun

thorite - a radioactive mineral consisting of thorium silicate; it is a source of thorium that is found in coarse graniteatomic number 90, thorium, Th - a soft silvery-white tetravalent radioactive metallic element; isotope 232 is used as a power source in nuclear reactors; occurs in thorite and in monazite sandsmineral - solid homogeneous inorganic substances occurring in nature having a definite chemical composition

Thorite

thorite

[′thȯr‚īt] (mineralogy) ThSiO₄ A brownish-yellow to brownish-black and black radioactive mineral that is tetragonal in crystallization; hardness is about 4.5 on Mohs scale, and specific gravity is 4.3-5.4.

Thorite

a mineral of the class of nesosilicates, ThSiO₄. The varieties of thorite are orangite (a transparent orange variety), uranothorite (up to 10 percent UO₂), thorogummite (up to 15 percent H₂O), ferrithorite (up to 13 percent Fe₂O₃), calciothorite, and auerlite (a phosphorus-containing thorite).

In addition, thorite contains aluminum, titanium, manganese, and rare earths as admixtures. Thorite crystallizes in a tetragonal system, forming prismatic or columnar crystals. It is usually encountered in the form of granular aggregates. Many thorites are metamict minerals. Thorite is black, red-brown, or orange. Unaltered uranothorite is transparent and olive green. The hardness of thorite on Mohs’ scale is 4.5–5, and its density is 4,100–6,700 kg/m³.

Thorite is highly radioactive. It is found as an accessory mineral in granites, some alkaline rocks, pegmatites, and hydrothermal veins. Large accumulations of thorite are usually not formed; the mineral is obtained from placers as a by-product with zircon andcassiterite.

thorite

tho·rite

thorite

tho•rite

Thorite

thorite

Thorite

thorite

Words related to thorite

noun a radioactive mineral consisting of thorium silicate

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