Nuragheite

Nuragheite is a rare natural thorium molybdate, formula Th₂·H₂O, discovered in Su Seinargiu, Sarroch, Cagliari, Sardegna, Italy. This locality is also a place of discovery of the other thorium molybdate - ichnusaite, which is a trihydrate.

Occurrence and association

Nuragheite is a part of molybdenum-bismuth mineralization. It coexists with ichnusaite, muscovite, and xenotime-(Y).

Crystal structure

The crystal structure of nuragheite is composed of layers with ^IXTh-centered polyhedra and Mo-centered tetrahedra. It is thus similar to that of ichnusaite.