This perky box includes four samples of sharp, lustrous, dark chocolate-brown thorianite cubes, a rare thorium oxide mineral accompanied by fluorapatite and minor phlogopite, is a micromount-sized sample from the Yates Mine in Otter Lake, Quebec. The thorianite crystals display well-formed intergrowths, with some showing penetration twinning. Thorianite is notable for its high thorium content, along with traces of uranium, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium. While slightly radioactive, it emits high-energy gamma rays, making it difficult to shield effectively.
The Yates Mine, originally developed for phlogopite and fluorite in the early 1900s, became significant in the 1950s after the discovery of uranothorite by J.M. Yates, leading to the formation of Yates Uranium Mines Inc. The deposit was worked through several pits, adits, and drilling. This particular thorianite specimen also includes minor fluorite and calcite, further contributing to its mineralogical interest.
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