THORITE
Specimen tho-4

Dims: 1.1 x 0.9 x 0.6" (2.8 x 2.3 x 1.5 cm)

Wt: 10.3 g

Saint Pierre Dome, El Paso County, Colorado, U.S.A.

Several portions of Thorite crystals are partly embedded in the host rock of this thumbnail specimen. All of these crystals are broken and incomplete, so much so that their tetragonal tabular form is impossible to determine (I would imagine that given this mineral's radioactivity, it would not form very definable crystals in the first place). They have a deep red-brown coloration and a dull matte luster, and are, of course, opaque. They rest in a dull, pale brown host rock that looks a lot like shale.

Dims: 0.9 x 0.8 x 0.5" (2.3 x 2.0 x 1.3 cm)

Wt: 6.2 g

Saint Pierre Dome, El Paso County, Colorado, U.S.A.

This thumbnail specimen consists of at least 2 partial tabular Thorite crystals. One of these crystals is heavily damaged and appears to be less than 50% complete, but the more exposed one seems to be at least 75% complete, if not more, and has visible dimensions of 0.5 x 0.4 x 0.1" (1.3 x 1.0 x 0.3 cm). Its tetragonal form is not well-defined, but is detectable. Both crystals have a moderately dark red-brown coloration and a matte luster, and are thoroughly opaque. They are partly embedded in a host rock that appears to be made up of a feldspar, and is rather rust-stained.

Dims: 0.9 x 0.8 x 0.3" (2.3 x 2.0 x 0.8 cm)

Wt: 7.7 g

Kemp property, Tory Hill, Cardiff Township, Haliburton County, Ontario, Canada

This thumbnail specimen consists of a single tetragonal tabular Thorite crystal. It is in good condition, showing little human-induced damage. Though it is heavily worn, it has the best form that I have ever seen in Thorite, as its tetragonal tabular form is definable. All of its edges are rounded and its faces are pitted and uneven, but can still be identified as such. The crystal has a moderately dark, rusty-brown coloration and a matte luster, and is thoroughly opaque. A few other smaller, broken Thorites are partly intergrown with the larger crystal, but there is no host rock present.

Dims: 1.8 x 1.4 x 1.0" (4.6 x 3.6 x 2.4 cm)

Wt: 0.9 oz. (26 g)

Kemp Prospect, Wilberforce, Ontario, Canada

Six intact Thorite crystals rest on the brown base of this hand specimen. These crystals are in excellent condition - the only visible damage is a crack that spans the length of the piece, running through 5 of them. The largest of these has dimensions of 0.7 x 0.4 x 0.3" (1.8 x 1.1 x 0.8 cm) and the smallest is maybe 33% of that size. All have excellent tetragonal tabular form, though their edges are somewhat rounded, and all have a rust-red color and a dull, earthy luster. A small, rounded and incomplete Thorite crystal is embedded in the bottom of the matrix rock. The piece registers substantially on my geiger-muller counter.

Dims: 1.6 x 1.5 x 0.9" (4.0 x 3.9 x 2.2 cm)

Wt: 0.9 oz. (25 g)

Kemp Prospect, Wilberforce, Ontario, Canada

One intact Thorite crystal rests on the base of this hand specimen. This crystal is in excellent condition, showing very light damage in a confined area, and has dimensions of 0.7 x 0.7 x 0.5" (1.8 x 1.8 x 1.3 cm). Its tetragonal tabular form is quite fat, giving it an almost prismatic habit, and its edges are rather rounded and worn. At least 3 other Thorite crystals are present on the piece, but these have a nearly black color, as opposed to the brick-red color of the intact crystal, and all of these are broken and incomplete. All have a dull, earthy luster, but the breakage surfaces of the incomplete crystals show a waxy or greasy luster. The piece registers quite readily on a geiger-muller counter.