Thorianite

Thorianite is a rare mineral, originally discovered by Ananda Coomaraswamy in 1904 as uraninite, but recognized as a new species by W. R. Dunston. It was so named on account of its high percentage of thorium (about 70% ThO2); it also contains the oxides of uranium, lanthanum, cerium and didymium. Helium is present, and the mineral is slightly less radioactive than pitchblende but harder to shield due its high energy gamma rays. It is relatively more common in the alluvial gem-gravels of Sri Lanka, where it occurs mostly as water worn, small, heavy, black, cubic crystals. The largest crystals (sizes usually up to around 1.5 cm; very rare are sizes greater than 2.5 cm; largest is 6 cm and 2.2 kilos) came from Madagascar.

Chemistry
Based on color, specific gravity and composition three types of thorianite are distinguished: Thorianite and uraninite form a complete solid solution series in synthetic and natural material. The division between the two species is at Th:U = 1:1 with U up to 46.50% and Th 45.3% to 87.9%. Rare earths, chiefly Ce, substitute for Th in amounts up to 8% by weight. Ce is probably present as Ce4+. Complete series is known in synthetic material between CeO2 - PrO2 - ThO2 - UO2. Small amounts of Fe3+ and Zr also may be isomorphous with Th. Pb present is probably radiogenic.
 * α - thorianite
 * β - thorianite
 * γ - thorianite

Varieties

 * Aldanite - a variety of thorianite containing 14.9% to 29.0% UO2 and 11.2% to 12.5% PbO.
 * Uranothorianite
 * Thorianite Cerian
 * Thorianite La bearing

Occurrence
Usually found in alluvial deposits, beach sands heavy mineral placers and pegmatites.


 * Sri Lanka - In stream gravels, Galle district, Southern Province; Balangonda district; near Kodrugala, S'abaragamuwa Province; and from a pegmatite in Bambarabotuwa area.
 * India - Reported from beach sands of Travancore (Kerala).
 * Madagascar - Found in alluvial deposits of Betroka and Andolobe. Also as very large crystals from Tôlanaro (Fort Dauphin); at Andranondambo and other localities.
 * Russia - In black sands of a gold placer on Boshogoch River, Transbaikalia, Siberia; in the Kovdor massif, Kola Peninsula; in the Yenisei Range, Siberia.
 * United States - reported from Easton, Pennsylvania; black sands in Missouri River, near Helena, Montana; Scott River, Siskiyou County, California; black sands in Nixon Fork and Wiseman districts, Alaska.
 * Canada - Reported with uraninite in a pegmatite on Charlebois Lake, east of Lake Athabasca; Uranon variety reported from pegmatite and metesomatized zones in crystalline limestones from many locations in Quebec and Ontario.
 * South Africa - Occurs with baddeleyite as an accessory in carbonatite at Phalaborwa, Eastern Transvaal.
 * Belgian Congo