| Nuragheite | |
| Category: | Molybdate minerals |
| Formula: | Th(MoO4)2·H2O |
| Imasymbol: | Nur[1] |
| System: | Monoclinic |
| Class: | Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol) |
| Symmetry: | P21/c |
| Unit Cell: | a = 7.36, b = 10.54 c = 9.49 [Å], β=91.88° (approximated) |
| Color: | Colorless |
| Habit: | Thin tablets |
| Cleavage: | , perfect |
| Tenacity: | Brittle |
| Luster: | Pearly adamantine |
| Streak: | White |
| Gravity: | 5.15 (calc., approximated) |
| Other: | Radioactive |
Nuragheite is a rare[2] natural thorium molybdate, formula Th(MoO4)2·H2O, discovered in Su Seinargiu, Sarroch, Cagliari, Sardegna, Italy.[3] This locality is also a place of discovery of the other thorium molybdate - ichnusaite, which is a trihydrate.[4]
Nuragheite is a part of molybdenum-bismuth mineralization. It coexists with ichnusaite, muscovite, and xenotime-(Y).[3]
Nuragheite is chemically pure.[3]
The crystal structure of nuragheite is composed of (100) layers with IXTh-centered polyhedra and Mo-centered tetrahedra.[3] It is thus similar to that of ichnusaite.