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

Yet another was "nipponium", extracted by a Japanese researcher in 1908 from the rare mineral, thorianite.

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If thorianite cannot be obtained, monazite, which is more abundant, may be utilized.

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Thorianite, however, contains no silica, and until it is shown that metallic oxides behave in the same way this explanation must be accepted with reserve.

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

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

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