thorianite

[ thawr-ee-uh-nahyt, thohr- ]

noun

1. a rare mineral, mainly thoria, ThO 2 , but also containing uranium, cerium, and other rare-earth metals, occurring in small, black, cubic crystals: notable for its radioactivity and used as a minor source of thorium.

thorianite

/ ˈθɔːrɪəˌnaɪt /

noun

1. a rare black mineral consisting of thorium and uranium oxides. Formula: ThO 2 .U 3 O 8

Word History and Origins

Origin of thorianite¹

1900–05; thorian ( thori(a) + -an ) + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

The richest known source is thorianite, which consists mainly of thorium oxide, and contains 9.5 cc.

From Project Gutenberg

Much the best practical source of helium is thorianite, a mineral imported from Ceylon for the manufacture of thoria.

From Project Gutenberg