[Rockhounds] Radioactive boy scout a la Harpers (was p=holes etc)

[Margaret Malm]

Thanks, Kreigh.
So it is now confirmed that it's not totally a "legend". But, also, not
necessarily very accurate.

WOW!

I too have some slightly radioactive minerals around -- not just in my
collection, but in the rocks in my yard! Silver Reef (where I live) had not
only silver/copper mines, but uranium too.  And the state came around a
couple of years ago and took samples from all our yards to check for Radon.
We all came out OK.

Margaret

>Margaret,

>The head of the state's DEQ confirmed they were involved and remediated
>the contaminated shed and other radioactive items (last post at the end
>of the link). Beyond a radioactive mess I question how much of the story
>is accurate, but I suspect bad journalism more than bad science.

>Makes me wonder what could be done with the radioactives in my mineral
>collection. I've got pitchblende specimens from at least a dozen
localities. ----

>BTW, I got to see the reactor at U of M back in the late 60s and look
>down at the core in the glowing pool from the walkway along the edge.
>Cherenkov radiation is really pretty.

Kreigh