Exploring the World of Radioactive Collectibles: From Mantles to Radium Needles
Exploring the World of Radioactive Collectibles: From Mantles to Radium Needles
Welcome to the fascinating world of radioactive collectibles! This unique hobby offers a glimpse into the history of nuclear technology and radiation, providing both a safe and educational starting point for enthusiasts. Whether you're interested in starting with something relatively safe like a thorium mantle or diving into more ominous pieces such as radium-coated aviation instruments and uranium glass, this article will guide you through the journey of this intriguing hobby.
Diving Into the World of Radioactive Collectibles
If you're pondering where to start in the world of radioactive collectibles, a lantern mantle is a great choice. Many collectibles fall under the umbrella of these mantles, which were once used in lanterns to produce a brighter, cleaner flame. For instance, the Thorium Mantle was a popular choice because of its long-lasting luminosity. However, manufacturers like Coleman have shifted away from thorium to safer alternatives due to concerns over radiation levels. Even so, you can still find Thorium Mantles or Brytly mantles, both still produced today. These mantles serve as a gentle introduction to the world of radioactive materials.
WWII and Cold War Era Collectibles
One of the most coveted items among collectors is a WII or Korean aviation cockpit instrument that was once slathered with radium. These instruments are no longer visible due to the destruction caused by radiation, but they still emit heat. Another interesting find can be high-quality uranium ore, which is also quite radioactive. If your luck holds, you might stumble upon pitchblende, a type of rock known for containing high levels of uranium. Other types of uranium ore can also be close in radioactivity.
Safe and Exempt Quantity Sources
For a more controlled and safe experience, you can purchase exempt quantity sources from trusted vendors. One such vendor is Radioactive Check Sources, now known as Berkeley Nucleonics, which offers not only sources of radioactive material but also excellent nuclear instrumentation. Be sure to check their website regularly as it can be tricky to reach them at times.
A classic set for experimenters typically includes four disks: Cs-137, Ba-133, Sr-90, and Cd-109. While Cd-109 has a short half-life and is expected to be spent in a few years, the other three have half-lives of around 30 years, making them suitable for a lifetime of use. I personally found a kit from The Nucleus that was still in excellent condition, having survived one half-life, though the company might no longer be in business. You can also consider having Co-60 on hand if you're interested in gamma spectroscopy, as its two lines around 1 MeV are handy for calibrating your equipment.
Finding and Handling Dangerous Sources
A radium Brachytherapy needle is the super prize in this hobby. Used in the treatment of cancer, these needles were once used in brachytherapy, a form of radiotherapy where an intensely radioactive source is inserted into a tumor. For example, Ir-192 pellets are now commonly used due to their short half-life, but in the past, beautifully crafted gold needles filled with radium chloride were used. Finding one of these in a doctor's estate can be quite exciting and rewarding, but it's crucial to handle them with caution due to their potential danger. To safely store any radioactive sources, it's important to create a lead containment box, commonly referred to as a lead pig.
Bright Orange Fiestaware: The Uranium Glazing
Beyond thorium mantles and radium-coated instruments, another fascinating collectible is Bright Orange Fiestaware. The orange color is due to uranium glazing, which can make these dishes much more radioactive than uranium glass. Recently, I came across a set of Fiestaware pieces that were so fluorescent they appeared to have a greenish hue in ordinary light and glowed under black light. Yet, they were the least radioactive piece in my collection, as it's more about the glass formulation and furnace atmosphere that allows uranium to glow, rather than the amount of uranium present.
Whether you're starting out with a lantern mantle, diving into WWII aviation instruments, or collecting uranium glass, exploring the world of radioactive collectibles can be both exciting and enlightening. Always handle these items with the utmost care and respect for their potential hazards.