thortveitite

Thortveitite is a rare silicate mineral with the chemical formula (Sc,Y)2Si2O7. It is an important source of scandium, a relatively rare element used in various high-tech applications. The mineral is characterized by its monoclinic crystal system and often occurs as prismatic or tabular crystals. Its color ranges from colorless to pale yellow or greenish, and it typically has a vitreous luster.

The discovery of thortveitite is attributed to the Norwegian mineralogist Waldemar Christoffer Brøgger, who named it in honor of the Norwegian engineer and industrialist Oluf Thortveit. The first specimens were found in the Iveland region of southern Norway, a historically significant area for rare earth element and scandium mineral discoveries.

Thortveitite is typically found in pegmatite intrusions and metamorphic rocks, often associated with other scandium-bearing minerals and accessory minerals like quartz, feldspar, and amphiboles. Its rarity means that commercial extraction is not widespread, and scandium is more commonly obtained as a byproduct from other ore processing, such as bauxite refining.

The primary significance of thortveitite lies in its scandium content. Scandium is utilized in aluminum-scandium alloys, which are lightweight and strong, finding applications in aerospace and high-performance sporting goods. It is also used in solid oxide fuel cells, high-intensity lighting, and certain electronic components. Despite its rarity, thortveitite remains a mineralogical curiosity and a potential future source of this valuable element.