Declassified Geological Survey in China Reports Massive Thorium Reserves

 Declassified Geological Survey in China Reports Massive Thorium Reserves

A recently declassified geological survey estimates that the Bayan Obo mining complex in the Inner Mongolia region of China could potentially yield up to 1 million tonnes of thorium.

About Thorium:

• What is Thorium?
  Thorium is a radioactive element that naturally occurs in low concentrations (around 10 parts per million) in the Earth’s crust.

• Source of Thorium:
  Thorium is present in trace amounts in most rocks and soils, and is more abundant than uranium. The most common source of thorium is the rare earth phosphate mineral, monazite, which has the highest concentrations in placer deposits.

• Global Reserves:
  India has the world’s largest thorium reserves, with 11.93 million tonnes of monazite, containing 1.07 million tonnes of thorium. Other countries with significant reserves include Brazil, Australia, and the USA.

• Properties:
  In its pure form, thorium is a soft, ductile, silvery-white heavy metal. Almost all naturally occurring thorium is found as Thorium-232 (Th-232).

• Thorium as Nuclear Fuel:
  Thorium-232 is not directly fissile and needs to be converted into the fissile material Uranium-233 (U-233). This conversion occurs through the irradiation of Th-232 using U-233 or Plutonium-239 (Pu-239) as a fissile driver.

• Reactors Using Thorium:
  Thorium can be used in various types of reactors, including Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), Pressurized (Light) Water Reactors (PWRs), and Fast Neutron Reactors (FNRs).

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