Post subject: Re: Radioactive inclusions in quartz
Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 1:39 pm
Valued Contributor
Joined: Fri Oct 06, 2017 6:12 am Posts: 135
Specimens of this type: Specimen 1 only has radiation halos, no inclusion inside. Specimen 2 has a radiation halo so dark which makes the inclusion indiscernible. Specimen 3 is a carving.Mutant golden fish with radioactive eyes.(Quite a match)
Post subject: Re: Radioactive inclusions in quartz
Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 1:55 am
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Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:05 am Posts: 1499
zbhjzm wrote:
They've all been tested, no radiation detectable.I guess the radiation of the inclusions is weak and can be contained in the quartz.
The radioactive decay of uranium and its daughter isotopes produce alpha and beta radiation. Alpha (helium nuclei) and beta (electrons) created in the decays have a lot of kinetic energy, but don’t penetrate very far. So the radiation isn’t exactly weak, but it is contained within the quartz.
Very cool to be able to see the effects of radiation damage without having to worry about the radiation itself.
Post subject: Re: Radioactive inclusions in quartz
Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 2:55 am
Valued Contributor
Joined: Fri Oct 06, 2017 6:12 am Posts: 135
Brian wrote:
zbhjzm wrote:
They've all been tested, no radiation detectable.I guess the radiation of the inclusions is weak and can be contained in the quartz.
The radioactive decay of uranium and its daughter isotopes produce alpha and beta radiation. Alpha (helium nuclei) and beta (electrons) created in the decays have a lot of kinetic energy, but don’t penetrate very far. So the radiation isn’t exactly weak, but it is contained within the quartz.
Very cool to be able to see the effects of radiation damage without having to worry about the radiation itself.
Yes, it's a good thing there's no γ radiation produced by the inclusions.
Post subject: Re: Radioactive inclusions in quartz
Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 3:46 pm
Gold Member
Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:05 am Posts: 1499
Well, the half life for uranium 238 decay is 4.5 billion years, about the same as the age of the earth. So those halos will continue darkening for several more billion years.
Post subject: Re: Radioactive inclusions in quartz
Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 10:40 pm
Valued Contributor
Joined: Fri Oct 06, 2017 6:12 am Posts: 135
Brian wrote:
Well, the half life for uranium 238 decay is 4.5 billion years, about the same as the age of the earth. So those halos will continue darkening for several more billion years.
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