Definition

1. Noun:
   • A radioactive mineral: Thorite is a naturally occurring mineral that contains radioactive elements.
   • Composition: It consists primarily of thorium silicate (ThSiO₄).
   • Source and occurrence: It serves as a source of the element thorium and is typically found in coarse granite rock formations.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • Geologists identified a vein of thorite in the granite quarry.
  • Thorite is an important ore for extracting thorium.
  • The sample's radioactivity was due to the presence of thorite.

Advanced Usage

• Scientific context: The term is used almost exclusively in geological, mineralogical, and nuclear science contexts to describe a specific mineral species.
  • The study focused on the crystalline structure of thorite.

Variants and Related Words

• Thorium (n): The radioactive metallic element (Th) that is the primary component of thorite.
• Silicate (n): A salt or ester of silicic acid, a major component of many minerals including thorite.

Synonyms

• Mineral: A solid, naturally occurring inorganic substance (this is the general category).
• Ore: A naturally occurring solid material from which a metal or valuable mineral can be extracted (thorite is a thorium ore).

Related Phrases

• No common phrasal verbs or idioms are associated with this specific scientific term.

Noun

1. a radioactive mineral consisting of thorium silicate; it is a source of thorium that is found in coarse granite