Thorite & Uranothorite - Kemp prospect (Kemp property; Kemp uranium mine), Cardiff Township, Highlands East Township, Haliburton County, Ontario, Canada

Th(SiO₄)       (Th,U)SiO₄

Thorite and uranothorite are thorium silicate minerals with compositions typically represented as ThSiO₄ and ThSiO₄ with uranium substitution, respectively. These minerals are noteworthy for their radioactive properties and distinctive orange to brownish-black coloration, often accompanied by a resinous to vitreous luster. At the Kemp Prospect, thorite and uranothorite occur as small, granular to subhedral crystals embedded within a matrix of granitic pegmatite or altered host rock. Their presence is associated with the localized concentration of thorium, uranium, and silica in hydrothermal or pegmatitic systems, providing clues to the geochemical processes in this region.

The Kemp Prospect, known for its rare-element mineralization, offers a unique geological environment for the crystallization of thorite and uranothorite. The interplay of high-temperature fluids and fractionated granitic magma resulted in the enrichment of actinides and silica, creating conditions ideal for these minerals to form. Specimens from the Kemp Prospect are of particular interest to mineral collectors and researchers due to their relative rarity and the insights they provide into thorium and uranium geochemistry in pegmatite-hosted deposits. Their study also contributes to a better understanding of the economic and environmental implications of naturally occurring radioactive minerals.

Approx. specimen size:

Approx. activity on an SE International Ranger EXP: 1600 cpm