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Thorium: Crustal abundance, joint production, and economic availability

Author

Listed:
  • Jordan, Brett W.
  • Eggert, Roderick G.
  • Dixon, Brent W.
  • Carlsen, Brett W.

Abstract

Recently, interest in thorium׳s potential use in a nuclear fuel cycle has been renewed. Thorium is more abundant, at least on average, than uranium in the earth׳s crust and, therefore, could theoretically extend the use of nuclear energy technology beyond the economic limits of uranium resources. This paper provides an economic assessment of thorium availability by creating cumulative-availability and potential mining-industry cost curves, based on known thorium resources. These tools provide two perspectives on the economic availability of thorium. In the long term, physical quantities of thorium likely will not be a constraint on the development of a thorium fuel cycle. In the medium term, however, thorium supply may be limited by constraints associated with its production as a by-product of rare earth elements and heavy mineral sands. Environmental concerns, social issues, regulation, and technology also present issues for the medium and long term supply of thorium.

Suggested Citation

  • Jordan, Brett W. & Eggert, Roderick G. & Dixon, Brent W. & Carlsen, Brett W., 2015. "Thorium: Crustal abundance, joint production, and economic availability," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 81-93.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jrpoli:v:44:y:2015:i:c:p:81-93
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2015.02.002
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yaksic, Andrés & Tilton, John E., 2009. "Using the cumulative availability curve to assess the threat of mineral depletion: The case of lithium," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 185-194, December.
    2. Kahouli, Sondès, 2011. "Re-examining uranium supply and demand: New insights," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 358-376, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Frenzel, Max & Ketris, Marina P. & Seifert, Thomas & Gutzmer, Jens, 2016. "On the current and future availability of gallium," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 38-50.
    2. Juan Ignacio Guzmán & Enrique Silva, 2018. "Copper price determination: fundamentals versus non-fundamentals," Mineral Economics, Springer;Raw Materials Group (RMG);Luleå University of Technology, vol. 31(3), pages 283-300, October.
    3. Fleming, Maxwell & Kannan, Sangita Gayatri & Eggert, Roderick, 2024. "Long-run availability of mineral resources: The dynamic case of lithium," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    4. Olga Fedorova & Elizaveta Vershinina & Svetlana Krasitskaya & Ivan Tananaev & Boris Myasoedov & Marco Vocciante, 2020. "Optimal Monazite Concentration Processes for the Extraction of Uranium and Thorium Fuel Material," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-10, September.
    5. Emilio Castillo & Roderick Eggert, 2019. "Reconciling Diverging Views on Mineral Depletion: A Modified Cumulative Availability Curve Applied to Copper Resources," Working Papers 2019-02, Colorado School of Mines, Division of Economics and Business.
    6. Jordan, Brett, 2018. "Economics literature on joint production of minerals: A survey," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 20-28.
    7. Abdulrahman Masoud Alotaibi & Aznan Fazli Ismail, 2022. "Modification of Clinoptilolite as a Robust Adsorbent for Highly-Efficient Removal of Thorium (IV) from Aqueous Solutions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-21, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Availability; Thorium; Joint production; Cumulative availability curve; Mine cost curve;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q31 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation - - - Demand and Supply; Prices
    • L72 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Primary Products and Construction - - - Mining, Extraction, and Refining: Other Nonrenewable Resources

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