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Answered by a visitor on Dec 17, 2008 10:29 PM - Thorium is at least three times more abundant in the earth's crust than Natural Uranium (combination of U-238 and U-235 isotopes). Th-232 is very inexpensive even though it is an excellent nuclear fuel for power generation. There are very few operating Thorium Reactors at this time so the need for Thorium as reactor fuel is low.

Thorium is of no real use today, which translates into an almost negligible price tag, says one expert Louw. "There is little use for thorium today. It was once used in welding tools, for example. Now it is just something to get rid of." Thorium occurs naturally with heavy minerals in South Africa and in many other locations like India and the state of Idaho.

There is no good technical reason why more abundant Thorium will not some day be used to make power. Thorium reactors pioneered at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the 1950s and 1960s operated well and had excellent nonproliferation and very low high level waste generation. Thorium technology is good and it currently is less expensive than the Uranium Cycle alternatives.

Answered by a visitor on Dec 25, 2008 8:13 PM - Today Thorium is so little used today that it is not quoted in the commercial market, however in 1980 it sold for about $33, (2008 equivalent dollars) per pound ($72/kg). In 1956 it cost about $2.00, (1956 dollars), per pound to separate it from the waste stream of other mining operations. At the present time the U.S. government has about 3300 metric tons of thorium buried at a site in Idaho. For all practical purposes when used in a nuclear reactor for power it is free. Current price for pure metal in ounce quantities is about $150/oz.

http://www.miningweekly.com/article.php?a_id=103093

http://www.principalmetals.com/utilities/90.htm