Difference between revisions of "Thorium"
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| − | |abundance=}} | + | |abundance=}}Thorium, ''[[Elements on Mars|Periodic table]] Th'', is present on [[Mars]], however, it seems to be lower concentrations than on Earth.<ref name=":12">Map of Martian Thorium at Mid-Latitudes, JPL '' Map of Martian Thorium at Mid-Latitudes '', https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=PIA04257, March 2003.</ref> Thorium can be used to produce fuel for [[Nuclear power|nuclear reactors]] on Mars, [[Nuclear_thermal_propulsion|nuclear thermal propulsion]] and [[Ion_thruster#Pulsed_Fission_Fusion_.28PuFF.29|nuclear pulsed propulsion]]. |
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| − | Thorium, ''[[Elements on Mars|Periodic table]] Th'', is present on [[Mars]], however, it seems to be lower concentrations than on Earth.<ref name=":12">Map of Martian Thorium at Mid-Latitudes, JPL '' Map of Martian Thorium at Mid-Latitudes '', https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=PIA04257, March 2003.</ref> Thorium can be used to produce fuel for [[Nuclear power|nuclear reactors]] on Mars, [[Nuclear_thermal_propulsion|nuclear thermal propulsion]] and [[Ion_thruster#Pulsed_Fission_Fusion_.28PuFF.29|nuclear pulsed propulsion]]. | ||
The average concentration seems to be about six times lower than on Earth in the most concentrated areas, at 1 ppm rather than the Earth average of 6 ppm<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occurrence_of_thorium</ref>. Therefore it is even less elsewhere. See map. Naturally concentrated deposits would need to be found to make the use of Thorium economical on Mars in the long term, or the tailings of rare earth element<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxwF93wnRQo</ref> or other<ref>https://www.epa.gov/radiation/tenorm-copper-mining-and-production-wastes</ref> mines could be utilized, which typically produce a waste stream enriched in thorium. | The average concentration seems to be about six times lower than on Earth in the most concentrated areas, at 1 ppm rather than the Earth average of 6 ppm<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occurrence_of_thorium</ref>. Therefore it is even less elsewhere. See map. Naturally concentrated deposits would need to be found to make the use of Thorium economical on Mars in the long term, or the tailings of rare earth element<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxwF93wnRQo</ref> or other<ref>https://www.epa.gov/radiation/tenorm-copper-mining-and-production-wastes</ref> mines could be utilized, which typically produce a waste stream enriched in thorium. | ||
| + | [[File:Th 040305 NG 5x5 SmB10 016 EQ75 with2Logos web.jpg|thumb|600x600px|Thorium surface concentration on Mars in PPM.]] | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
Revision as of 12:36, 16 November 2020
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Abundance:
Thorium, Periodic table Th, is present on Mars, however, it seems to be lower concentrations than on Earth.[1] Thorium can be used to produce fuel for nuclear reactors on Mars, nuclear thermal propulsion and nuclear pulsed propulsion.
The average concentration seems to be about six times lower than on Earth in the most concentrated areas, at 1 ppm rather than the Earth average of 6 ppm[2]. Therefore it is even less elsewhere. See map. Naturally concentrated deposits would need to be found to make the use of Thorium economical on Mars in the long term, or the tailings of rare earth element[3] or other[4] mines could be utilized, which typically produce a waste stream enriched in thorium.
References
- ↑ Map of Martian Thorium at Mid-Latitudes, JPL Map of Martian Thorium at Mid-Latitudes , https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=PIA04257, March 2003.
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occurrence_of_thorium
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxwF93wnRQo
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/radiation/tenorm-copper-mining-and-production-wastes
