Ekanite is an uncommon mineral notable primarily as being among the very few gemstones that are naturally radioactive. Most ekanite is mined in Sri Lanka, although deposits also occur in Russia and North America. Clear and well-colored stones command the best prices, but such stones are rare; the mineral's radioactivity tends to degrade the crystal matrix over time in a process known as metamictization. Ekanite was first described in 1955 by F. L. D. Ekanayake.
Ekanite is an uncommon mineral notable primarily as being among the very few gemstones that are naturally radioactive. Most ekanite is mined in Sri Lanka, although deposits also occur in Russia and North America. Clear and well-colored stones command the best prices, but such stones are rare; the mineral's radioactivity tends to degrade the crystal matrix over time in a process known as metamictization. Ekanite was first described in 1955 by F. L. D. Ekanayake. Peso molecular = 856.87 gm Calcio 9.35 % Ca 13.09 % CaO Thorium 27.08 % Th 30.81 % ThO2 Sílice 26.22 % Si 56.10 % SiO2 Oxígeno 37.34 % O ______ ______ 100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDOS