Radioactives {was: Re: [Rockhounds] RE: Running out of space}

[Axel Emmermann]

Well, Kreigh, most people get a little concerned when hey hear the words
radioactive or uranium.
There was an "open company day" a few years ago in Antwerp. People were
asked for their input in building a science show for the visitors.
I suggested to build a small cloud chamber to make particle emission
visible.
The safety board whipped the idea off the table because:
1) alcohol is flammable
2) dry ice is CO2 which can cause suffocation.
3) radioactive materials are strictly forbidden
4) they had no idea what they were saying or thinking

They did however accept my alternative idea which involved having kids play
with a high power short wave UV source. They didn't know what that was but
the idea that it was powered by a 12 volt DC current must have been
immensely reassuring. 

As usual people fear what they don't understand ;-)))

Cheers
Axel
> -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
> Van: rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com
[mailto:rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com]
> Namens Kreigh Tomaszewski
> Verzonden: vrijdag 16 januari 2009 4:52
> Aan: Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors
> Onderwerp: Radioactives {was: Re: [Rockhounds] RE: Running out of space}
> 
> My wife was concerned enough about the number of radioactive specimens
> in my collection she bought me a radon test for my birthday last year.
> It was elevated 3% over background, but well below the threshold for
> concern.
> 
> Some of the specimens are in my big cabinet by the front door, and the
> rest are in the basement. I've got primary ores, and lots of
> interesting secondary minerals (many of them glow under black light),
> softball sized chunks of Pitchblende from various mines, and golf ball
> sized chunks of Carnotite. Most of the secondary minerals are really
> pretty.
> 
> I minimize handling them, and wash up immediately if I do handle them.
> The areas they are stored in get regular air flow (my boiler sucks air
> thru the basement and expels it out the chimney - the cracks around the
> front door vent the front hall).
> 
> Radioactive minerals are safe to collect if you take reasonable (and
> mostly minimal) precautions. Storing them in your bedroom is just plain
> stupid.
> 
> Please consider this to be a glowing report about the joys of
> collecting radioactive specimens.		;-}
> 
> Kreigh
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Thursday, Jan 15, 2009, at 17:54 America/Detroit, Axel Emmermann
> wrote:
> 
> > Indeed, Johan, what a memory!
> > Stockpiling radioactive material in ones bedroom is not really sane.
> > I wonder if Peter has any children? I also wonder what they would look
> > like...
> > Whomever shares his reactor room won't have trouble locating him in the
> > dark.
> > There's only little radioactive stuff in my collection and nothing like
> > primary uranium or thorium ore. A simple headcount suffices to make an
> > inventory of my family. ROFL.
> > The offspring of radon-breathing human subspecies may have more
> > intricate
> > forms, an extra head or two perhaps?
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> > Axel
> >
> >
> >> -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
> >> Van: rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com
> > [mailto:rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com]
> >> Namens Johan Mineral Verizon
> >> Verzonden: woensdag 14 januari 2009 2:29
> >> Aan: rockhounds at lists.drizzle.com
> >> Onderwerp: [Rockhounds] RE: Running out of space
> >>
> >> Axel, what a memory.
> >>
> >> While in Denmark, I visited Peter's apartment with Kitty.
> >> It was a miracle we could get in his one bedroom apartment at all.
> >> Every square centimeter was filled with magazines, boxes, stuff.
> >> I have seen quite a few packrats, but never anything like this.
> >> My feet were to long to navigate the very narrow corridor he had
> >> built between his boxes.
> >> Of course there were a large quantity of radioactive minerals
> >>
> >> But Peter was very passionate about his hobby and he never saw his
> >> place as a storage mess.
> >> Aren't we all like that?
> >>
> >>
> >> Moving ... done this twice and I still have not unpacked boxes from
> >> twelve years ago.
> >> Every time I open one during our mineral pick-nick the oh and ahs
> >> from the attendees enlighten me.
> >>
> >> Remember guys: Beez, Mont-sur-Marchienne, Plombieres, Seilles, Cahay?
> >>
> >> Johan Maertens
> >> Mr dot Calcite at Verizon dot net
> >> calcite4ever at gmail dot com
> >>
> >> Do you like minerals and other earth treasures?
> >> Visit the Mineral Collectors Page by the Mineral Club of Antwerp at
> >> http://www.minerant.org
> >>
> >>
> >> --
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