Thorium
actinide · Group 3 · Period 7
Atomic properties
Market data
Raw material sources & pricing
| Raw Material Form | Grade/Quality | Price Paid by Processors | Major Sources | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monazite Concentrate | 3-12% ThO₂ | $150-350/MT | India, Brazil, Australia | Primary source, contains rare earths |
| Bastnäsite | 0.1-0.3% ThO₂ | $80-150/MT | USA, China | Minor thorium, mainly for rare earths |
| Thorite | 20-30% ThO₂ | $800-1,500/MT | Norway, Canada | High grade but rare deposits |
| Thorianite | 70-93% ThO₂ | $2,000-4,000/MT | Sri Lanka, Madagascar | Highest grade, very limited supply |
Monazite and Other Thorium-Bearing Minerals
Current Market Price: $150-350/MT (monazite concentrate, varies by ThO₂ content) Major Global Reserves: India: 846,000 MT ThO₂ (31% of world reserves) - Beach sands Brazil: 632,000 MT ThO₂ (23% of world reserves) - Coastal deposits Australia: 595,000 MT ThO₂ (22% of world reserves) - Heavy mineral sands USA: 595,000 MT ThO₂ (22% of world reserves) - Mountain Pass, beach placers Others: 62,000 MT ThO₂ (2% of world reserves) 2025 Production Leaders: India: ~5,000 MT ThO₂/year (controlled by government) Brazil: ~1,200 MT ThO₂/year (as rare earth byproduct) Malaysia: ~350 MT ThO₂/year (from tin mining tailings) China: ~800 MT ThO₂/year (rare earth processing byproduct) Raw Material Form Grade/Quality Price Paid by Processors Major Sources Notes Monazite Concentrate 3-12% ThO₂ $150-350/MT India
⚠️ Regulatory Restrictions
International Controls: IAEA safeguards apply USA: NRC license required for >2kg source material EU: Euratom Treaty regulations apply Transport: UN Class 7 radioactive material shipping requirements Note: Many countries restrict or prohibit thorium imports/exports due to nuclear proliferation concerns
Production cost analysis
| Cost Component | $/kg ThO₂ | % of Total Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monazite Ore (10-100 kg needed) | $15-35 | 10-15% | Varies by ore grade |
| Chemical Processing | $40-80 | 25-35% | Acid digestion, solvent extraction |
| Radioactive Waste Management | $50-120 | 30-40% | Long-term storage costs |
| Labor (Specialized) | $30-60 | 15-20% | Radiation safety training required |
| Regulatory Compliance | $25-55 | 10-15% | Licensing, monitoring, reporting |
| Total Production Cost | $160-350 | 100% | Compare to selling price: $200-500/kg |
Commercial forms & specifications
| Product Form | Chemical Formula | Molecular Weight | Typical Purity | Price Range (USD/kg) | Main Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thorium Dioxide | ThO₂ | 264.04 g/mol | 99.5-99.99% | $200-500 | Nuclear fuel, catalysts, ceramics |
| Thorium Nitrate | Th(NO₃)₄·5H₂O | 570.13 g/mol | 99-99.9% | $150-400 | Gas mantles, analytical reagent |
| Thorium Fluoride | ThF₄ | 308.03 g/mol | 99-99.9% | $300-700 | Optical coatings, nuclear applications |
| Thorium Metal | Th | 232.04 g/mol | 99-99.9% | $500-1,500 | Alloys, research applications |
| Thorium Chloride | ThCl₄ | 373.85 g/mol | 99-99.5% | $250-600 | Chemical synthesis, catalysts |
| Thorium Carbonate | Th(CO₃)₂ | 352.06 g/mol | 98-99% | $180-450 | Ceramics, specialty glass |
| Thorium Oxalate | Th(C₂O₄)₂·6H₂O | 516.17 g/mol | 99% | $200-500 | Intermediate for oxide production |
| Magnesium-Thorium Alloy | Mg-Th (2-3% Th) | Variable | Aerospace grade | $50-150 | High-temp aerospace applications |
Suppliers by country
🇮🇳 India
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) | ThO₂, thorium nitrate, monazite | Government monopoly, largest reserves access |
| Nuclear Fuel Complex | Nuclear-grade ThO₂ | Advanced thorium fuel cycle research |
🇺🇸 United States
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Fuels Inc. | Thorium compounds (as byproduct) | Rare earth processing, thorium storage |
| American Elements | High-purity thorium compounds | Research quantities, custom synthesis |
| Materion Corporation | Th alloys, specialty products | Aerospace alloys, specialty applications |
🇨🇳 China
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| China Minmetals Rare Earth | Thorium compounds (controlled) | Rare earth separation byproduct |
| Ganzhou Rare Earth Group | Limited thorium products | Ion-adsorption clay processing |
🇧🇷 Brazil
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil (INB) | Thorium compounds, monazite | State-controlled, monazite processing |
🇦🇺 Australia
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Lynas Rare Earths | Thorium residues (stored) | Rare earth processing, thorium management |
| Iluka Resources | Monazite concentrate | Heavy mineral sands mining |
🇳🇴 Norway
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Norge Mining | Future thorium production planned | Developing rare earth/thorium deposits |
| REETec AS | Thorium separation technology | Rare earth separation, thorium recovery |
Market demand by product form
| Application | Global Market Size | Volume (MT/year) | Main Countries | Growth Rate (CAGR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuclear Research | $45 million | 120 MT | India, China, USA | 8.5% |
| Catalyst Industry | $35 million | 85 MT | USA, EU, Japan | 4.2% |
| Specialty Alloys | $28 million | 65 MT | USA, UK, France | 3.8% |
| Optical Coatings | $22 million | 45 MT | Germany, Japan, USA | 5.5% |
| Ceramics & Refractories | $18 million | 40 MT | China, USA, EU | 3.2% |
| Gas Mantles (declining) | $12 million | 25 MT | India, Brazil | -5.0% |
| Other Applications | $8 million | 20 MT | Various | 2.5% |
Market trends
Nuclear Renaissance: Growing interest in thorium reactors for clean energy, especially in Asia Supply Concentration: 80% of production controlled by government entities Waste Legacy: Large thorium stockpiles from rare earth processing seeking valorization Regulatory Evolution: Countries updating regulations to enable thorium fuel cycle Technology Development: Molten salt reactor designs advancing toward commercialization Price Stability: Limited market liquidity keeps prices relatively stable Environmental Concerns: Focus on managing radioactive residues from rare earth processing Strategic Material: Several countries classifying thorium as strategic resource
Moles per kilogram
| Product Form | Formula | MW (g/mol) | Moles/kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thorium Metal | Th | 232.04 | 4.31 |
| Thorium Dioxide | ThO₂ | 264.04 | 3.79 |
| Thorium Nitrate (pentahydrate) | Th(NO₃)₄·5H₂O | 570.13 | 1.75 |
| Thorium Fluoride | ThF₄ | 308.03 | 3.25 |
| Thorium Chloride | ThCl₄ | 373.85 | 2.67 |
| Thorium Carbonate | Th(CO₃)₂ | 352.06 | 2.84 |
References
Explore on Amazon
Explore Thorium-related materials, books, and lab gear on Amazon. Selections are search-based; results refresh on Amazon.
Affiliate disclosure:As an Amazon Associate, nanos earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more.