Collecting and Handling Uranium and Thorium Minerals Collecting Uranium and Thorium are power metals, large amounts of energy can be extracted from them by nuclear fission. This makes their minerals of great economic and military importance in the world today. The geochemistry of uranium makes it a very versatile element. Literally hundreds of minerals of uranium exist that are known of. New minerals of Uranium are being found even in these days where much of the earth's surface has been explored and exploited economically. Most of the minerals found are so rare that diamonds are as common as road gravel by comparison. An example of uranium's versatility in forming new minerals is how it crystalizes. Uraninite, which is Uranium Oxide (UO2), is the most common uranium mineral. Its crystal form can vary from Octahedral to Cubic crystals, and all forms in between. Other Uranium minerals form crystals that are unusual for any mineral, such as Marthozite. Still others may show no crystal form, like Umbozerite, will rarely form crystals, such as Samarskite, or have crystals so fine that their exact form is uncertain, as with Coconinoite. There are often a wide variety of forms even within a single mineral. It is extremely unlikely that any person or organization will ever collect every uranium or thorium mineral known to exist. Many are so rare that they occur at only one location. Many of these, such as Larisaite and Ulrichite, not only have been found at just one location, but that location is either no longer accessable due to the mine being closed, filled in and sold for developement, or the deposit has been completely excavated and no more is being found. Other areas one can speciallize in are the solid solution minerals. Uraninite and <"a href="../UTh/Thorianite.htm">Thorianite are the end minerals of a spectrum of solid solution minerals containg varying proportions of each. Even the cariability of the basic crystal form of a single mineral can present a challeng to the collector. Martozoite has an unusuall crystal structure, with many of the faces being present or absent in even neighboring crystals. The Even the angle of the 'barn roof' has been seen to be somewhat variable. If one cannot obtain all these minerals, it is still a challenge to try to obtain all the known varients of a single mineral.   Hazards of Uranium Minerals Uranium and Thorium are radioactive elements. This gives their minerals both an special aura of interest, and a new dimention of potential hazard. In the quantities one is likely to collect, the hazard from radiation is unlikely to become a problem. That does not mean, however, that radiation can be simply ignored. In my personnal collection, I have several specimes that give gamma radiation readings of over 10 milliRADs per hour at a distance of 2.5 cm (1 inch). One gives a reading of nearly 10 milliRADs at 30 cm (~1 foot). The average dose of radiation for the general public within the United States is 150 milliRADs. These specimens can expose one, at least to a localized area, to a year's worth of radiation in a mater of hours. As veterans of several nations have been discovering, the depleted Uranium Oxide, chemically identical to Uraninite, is not as readily eliminated from the body as was once thought. It can cause heath problems that persist through one's life and defy medical treatment. The long term effect of the radiation from a particle of Uranium Oxide embedded within one's body can cause a localized increased risk of cancer in a lifetime. Uranium Oxide is just starting to be understood medically. Thorium has even less know about it. To compound this, Uranium and Thorium are both heavy metals, and thus toxic. The soluble salts, while relatively quickly eliminated from the body, will cause damage to a wide range of organs within the body. Fortunately, they do not get deposited in the bones, some of their daughters, from radioactive decay, are. Radium, which is both very radioactive and present in significant quantities in natural uranium minerals, is deposited in bones. Radon gas, a more distant granddaughter, last for only days, making it extremely radioactive. Its decay product, lead, can collect in the lungs and cause toxicity problems. In some very rich Uranium mines, Radon gas and radiation have cause the mine to close. There have also been reports of Radon accumulating to the point that air is displaced, and radiation levels are potentially leathal after several weeks of working the mine. Thus, collecting inside an old Uranium mine presents dangers beyong just simple collapse or methane gas deposits. Add in that many are located in very remote area accessable for limited times each year, such as the deposits in northern Canada, and the hazards are beyond even the advanced collector.   Basic Handling Precautions Collecting Uranium and Thorium minerals can be safe if a few basic precautions are taken, beyond those taken for any other natural mineral. Handle Uranium and Thorium minerals no more than is necessary to prepare and sudy them. Wash your hands after handling a radioactive specimen to prevent ingesting radioactive particles. Using latex or plastic gloves may be a wise precaution with very crumbly specimens, such as pitchblend in sandstone. Keep children, pets and uninformed adults away from specimens unless closely supervised. Not only might they forget to washtheir hands afterward, and ingest radioactive particles, they may may damage a specimen that is rarer than gem diamonds. Use damp, disposable wipes to clean up the areas where the specimens are kept or worked upon. This will keep down the levels of radioactive dust from specimens and lead released by the decay of Radon. Keep specimens in a secure, well ventilated area. Ventilation should be to the outside, and not to other inhabited areas, including the central heating and air conditioning system. Radon gas and radioactive dust can become a problem if the specimen is kept closed up in a box, closet or similar location. Do not keep or work on specimens in an area where you, or others, prepare or eat food or drinks, sleep, or reside for any significant length of time. While radiations levels can be significant for some specimens, sheilding will seldom be needed for a personnal collection. When the background radiation count at 3 meters from the collection rises to double the background count prior to the import of the collection, the use of lead foil on the walls and cabinets where the specimens are kept should be considered.   The Future of Collecting Uranium and Thorium Minerals While some of these precautions may seem excessive, they are only the most basic precautions needed for the safe collection and study of Uranium and Thorium minerals. It does not cover the safe, and legal, transport of these minerals. While the enforcement of these laws and regulations has been lax in the past, the recent interest by those who would do harm to the public has tightened the enforcement of the laws. While you may get away with shipping a highly radioactive specimen of Becquerelite through the mail, you are endangering not only yourself and the shipping personnel, but other collectors who will face stiffers requirements due to your foolishness. There is also the possibility that collecting radioactive minerals may be restricted or prohibited if a few people abuse the system today. There is already a push on in many places around the world to control all radioactive material, including minerals. Thorium, because of its use in breeder reactors and convertability to 233Uranium, which is as usable as 239Plutonium in nuclear weapons, is likely to become an I.A.E.A. controlled substance within the not too distant future.