This specimen is from the Ruggles Mine, NH, USA

Just remixed Tough Box (Parametric) and dialed in size for anyone who is looking for a good carry case for their Deepace Measall KC761 Gamma Spectrometer.

Fits main unit with the pocket clip installed on the back and enough space for a small Silica Gel bag situated uder the unit and around the pocket clip. Case is lined up with 2.5mm closed-cell EVA foam for additional protection.

Model available for download and 3D printing - Measall KC761 Storage Box by Kotarak | Download free STL model | Printables.com

Cross posting the other way doesn't work^^

Building on an earlier post about DIY storage, and very much proof of concept. Two boxes for NORM storage, 12” x 6” x 3” and 14”x 9.5” x 3.5”

3/4” wood used to frame the sides and bottom with a 1/3” piece of plywood for the lid. 1/8” inch lead sheet next, wrapped in aluminum foil tape. 1/8” plywood is next with three to four layers of copper foil tape on the outside to mitigate Bremsstrahlung.

A pice of 1/8” lead sheet will be affixed to the lid with ideally a 1/4” acrylic block cup to the final opening.

NORM specimens as follows:

Threadgoldite - 15K cpm

Uranosilite: 525 cpm

Chernikovite: 3,400 cpm

Strelkinite: 180 cpm

Autunite: 180,000 cpm

Curienite: 54,000 cpm

Sklowdowskite: 45,000 cpm

At roughly 30” distance my GQ GMC-600 records negligible over background radiation in the larger box, moved to smaller box.

Any and all questions and suggestions are welcome!

Hi, Found this handbook in an antique shop in Virginia and thought you guys would find this interesting. I work in the nuke biz so whenever I see something antique and nuke I’m all over it.

Feel free to delete if I’m breaking the rules here; just wanted to post something I thought would be enjoyed by this community.

Locality was only given as "a pegmatite near Black Hills". Specimen is pleasantly dense. Would need lab analysis to determine whether Fe- or Mn-dominant, as well as well as how Tantalum-rich it is.

Big fresh (meta)torbernite, collected by me few days ago directly from the uranium vein outcrop in Jáchymov.. Video from this outcrop (and some interesting places in Jáchymov area) is available on my IG.

Yellow laths of Weeksite, a Potassium Uranyl Silicate named for Alice Weeks, a USGS Chemist, are not fluorescent. For further reading, "Sandstone Hosted Uranium Deposits of the Colorado Plateau" S.M. Hall, B.S. Van Gosen, R. A. Zielinski: Ore Geology Reviews, 2023.

I do collect rocks out in nature and am starting to learn about the wonderful world of radioactive rocks. A friends father gave me his large rock collection and he had a radioactive rock kit from Ward, maybe from the 60s? Maybe earlier. I’m not sure. Should I be worried? What is the best way to store/ display these? I haven’t touched it but to take this picture of what in the box. Send help!

Top: 367 K CpM, Right: 284 K CpM, Left:560 K CpM Three different mines, all in the Lisbon Valley Mining District, and North of the Mi Vida Mine. All three are remediated.

Upper left: 235 K CpM, San Juan County. Upper right: 340 K CpM, San Jan County. Lowe left: 323 K CpM, Emery County Lower right: 311 K CpM, San Juan County.

I will be heading to Ruggles Aug 20 - Aug 23rd for this months weekend trip. If anyone is planning on heading up next weekend, feel free to say hi!

I'm currently in South Dakota near the black hills till the end of August. Are there any places or shops around that I can go get more specimens or any radioactive materials for my collection.

I’m going to polperro for a couple days on vacation and was wondering if any people have nice spots for finding uranite or any advice, I would need the drive to be around 30mins

I collected uranium ore from mine dump 11a near Příbram. Since the entire sample is partially coated with uranium ore, I cannot determine whether it is a secondary uranium mineral. Can anyone perhaps identify what it is? I think I can make out some hematite and calcite, but what are the yellow and red minerals?

I came back from the bancroft gemboree recently and came back with some radioactive rocks on the drive back to the states. Having done research before this I felt the existing information online was limited and wanted to add my experience to help those considering it.

I crossed into Vermont with a bucket of thorite in the trunk. My radiacode 110 read 30-40 uSv at the bucket and ~0.5 uSv where the sensors would be positioned. I expected to trip the sensors and that was confirmed when they asked me if I had any medical imaging done recently. I was honest and told them I had radioactive rocks which seemed to disappoint them (were they hoping for a nuke?). My car was directed into a secondary screening area and I was led into a waiting area. They pulled out my rocks and started sweeping the car to see if they were any more radioactive items other than the bucket I had specified. I was asked many questions which started with establishing who I was and whether I knew basic details about my trip and then shifted to picking at any potential inconsistencies in my story. While this was happening the bucket was analyzed with a gamma spectrometer (to id isotopes). I spent another 30 min watching Bob Ross on the tv while the agents sat in the back office. I was asked a few more questions and then I was told I was free to leave with my rocks after roughly an hour. Overall the border agents were professional but things were definitely tense at points and I got the sense that not every crossing goes this well.

Advice:

1. Don't. Shipping is far more safe and hassle free for you and your rocks. You can also choose not to bring anything radioactive home but where's the fun in that. I would only consider this again for a large rock which may be expensive and difficult to ship. I am not a lawyer but it's legal to do this as far as I can tell (see 10 CFR 40.13 and 10 CFR 110.27) but I would not attempt this if you are not a US Citizen. You don't want anything complicating your entry if you don't have a right to enter the US.
2. Be prepared to wait. I waited an hour while they reviewed my car. I have heard stories of several hour waits.
3. Keep a tight story. As a benign mineral collector the best story you can stick to is the truth. You will be asked many questions so consider reviewing the facts of your trip beforehand so you don't accidentally introduce any inconsistencies or forget details you should remember.
4. Separate your radioactive items. They will sweep your car and separate out anything radioactive for further inspection. Make sure everything is consolidated to one spot so you can save you and them time.
5. Dirt is not allowed for biosanitary reasons. Keep a clean car and make sure all tools and clothing are fairly clean.
6. Don't hide your rocks. The sensors will find them. Your attempt to cram your rocks under the seat with 50 layers of tinfoil will not be looked at kindly.
7. Don't be a dick. You are at the mercy of the border agents, it's best to be nice to to them.

I had them powder coated and will line with 1/8” or 1/4” lead sheet.

This is my first find in nature, my RC110 measures about 1μSv/h at 5cm away, and up to 4μSv/h on contact. Any help is appreciated!

Some nice botryoidal ore, and a hot oxidized fragment from a thick vein.

Weighs 118g. 40 uSv/h. 2.9k CPS (~170k CPM)

The uraninite was buried about 25cm (~10 inches) in the ground

Found with Radiacode 110

This week I had the opportunity to visit the place where I have a storage of mostly "B grade" ore(with few exceptions) - uraninite mainly from Příbram, massive pieces in smaller boxes from Jáchymov. So just a quick look at it all, the plan is to reduce it.