Cochise College          Photos of Minerals

                          Geology Home Page                

                          Roger Weller, geology instructor

                          [email protected]
                                  copyright 2007-R.Weller
 

Mineral Information on:
thorite

Chemical Group:  silicate

Chemical Formula:  ThSiO₄  (thorium silicate)

Color:   black, orange-yellow                    Streak:

Hardness:   4.5 to 5              Specific Gravity:                  Fracture:

Cleavage:  distinct prismatic

Crystal Forms: Tetragonal system
        Crystals resemble zircon crystals, 4-sided prisms, capped at both ends by pyramids

Mineral Associations:

Identifying Characteristics:

Uses:  source of thorium

Occurrences:   Norway, Sweden, Madagascar, Canada

Toxicity:      when-swallowed-                            when inhaled-

Additional Information: