Thorium resources are a potential source for low-carbon energy.
Thorium
Thorium is a weakly radioactive metallic chemical element with the symbol Th and atomic number 90. Thorium is silvery and tarnishes black when it is exposed to air, forming thorium dioxide; it is moderately soft and malleable and has a high me ...
has been demonstrated to perform as a nuclear fuel in several reactor designs. It is present with a higher abundance than uranium in the
crust of the
earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. While large volumes of water can be found throughout the Solar System, only Earth sustains liquid surface water. About 71% of Earth's surfa ...
. Thorium resources have not been estimated and assessed with a higher level of confidence, as in the case of
uranium
Uranium is a chemical element with the symbol U and atomic number 92. It is a silvery-grey metal in the actinide series of the periodic table. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons. Uranium is weak ...
. Approximately 6 million tonnes of thorium have been estimated globally based on currently limited exploration and mainly on historical data.
Thorium resources are found widely in over 35 countries all over the world. As there is currently negligible commercial use of thorium, the resources should be considered potentially viable according to the
United Nations Framework Classification for Resources
United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC) is an international scheme for the classification, management and reporting of energy, mineral, and raw material resources. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's (UNECE) Expert ...
. Figures are given in metric
tonnes of thorium metal.
See also
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Thorium
Thorium is a weakly radioactive metallic chemical element with the symbol Th and atomic number 90. Thorium is silvery and tarnishes black when it is exposed to air, forming thorium dioxide; it is moderately soft and malleable and has a high me ...
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Occurrence of thorium
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List of countries by uranium reserves
Uranium reserves are reserves of recoverable uranium, regardless of isotope, based on a set market price. The list given here is based on ''Uranium 2020: Resources, Production and Demand'', a joint report by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and th ...
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Thorium fuel cycle
The thorium fuel cycle is a nuclear fuel cycle that uses an isotope of thorium, , as the fertile material. In the reactor, is transmuted into the fissile artificial uranium isotope which is the nuclear fuel. Unlike natural uranium, natural tho ...
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Thorium-based nuclear power
Thorium-based nuclear power generation is fueled primarily by the nuclear fission of the isotope uranium-233 produced from the fertile element thorium. A thorium fuel cycle can offer several potential advantages over a uranium fuel cycleA nuclea ...
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Thorium Energy Alliance
Thorium Energy Alliance (TEA) is a non-governmental, non-profit 501(c)3, educational organization based in the United States, which seeks to promote energy security of the world through the use of thorium as a fuel source. The potential for the ...
References
Sources
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{{Energy country lists, state=expanded
Nuclear fuels
Nuclear technology
Thorium