Thorium [thawr-ee-uhm] is a chemical element with the symbol Th and atomic number 90. It is a naturally occurring, lustrous white metal. It is estimated to be about three to four times more abundant than uranium in the Earth’s crust. It has been considered a waste product in mining rare earths, so its abundance is high and cost low. One ton of thorium produces the same energy as 200 tons of uranium, or 3.5 million tons of coal.
Edward Teller, co-founder and director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, promoted thorium energy until his death, and scientists in the United States, France, Japan, India, and Russia are now creating their own thorium-based power plants.
The Daily Omnivore 
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