Thorasphite is a rare thorium arsenate. It was approved as a distinct mineral species in 2018. It was first described from Elsmore Tin Mine, Elsmore, New South Wales, Australia.
Is this thorasphite?
4-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch thorasphite with a known reference. Thorasphite sits at Mohs 4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 3Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless.
- 4Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Thorasphite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside thorasphite
Minerals reported to co-occur with thorasphite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Th₂H(AsO₄)₂(PO₄)·6H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 5.45 g/cm³
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic crystals
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- alkaline pegmatites
Where rockhounds find thorasphite
Classic worldwide localities
- Elsmore Tin Mine, Elsmore, New South Wales, Australia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: alkaline pegmatites. If you start seeing zircon, fluorite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify thorasphite?+
Where is thorasphite found?+
Is thorasphite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like thorasphite?+
What minerals are found with thorasphite?+
What kind of rock does thorasphite form in?+
What is thorasphite used for?+
Find thorasphite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
